IBARRA, Francisco de, Spanish explorer, born in Spain in the beginning of the 16th century; died in Chametla, Mexico, in 1572. About 1554 he came to Mexico, and was appointed governor of the Zacatecas Indians. Learning from the natives of the promising countries to the north, he formed a party and set out to explore them, visiting places that he called San Lucas, San Martin, and Sombrerete. the rich silver-mines of the latter place attracted his attention, and after a long struggle with the natives, who were at last subdued and pacified, Ibarra founded the villages of San Martin and Nombre de Dies. He was then promoted to a captaincy, and in the autumn of the same year he led his company to what is now New Mexico, discovering the rich mines of Inde and San Juan, and founding the cities of Durango and Santa, Barbara in the territory that he called Nueva Viscaya. From this place he travelled northwest. He founded the cities of Cinaloa, Chametla, and San Sebastian, and then passed through Chihuahua, Sonora, part of California, and New Mexico, to San Lucas. On his return to the colony of Sombrerete he rendered great service to the Spaniards by subduing Indian revolts, he wrote several letters to the court, most of which are preserved, and have been published by the government of Spain.