QUESADA, Gonzalo Jimenez de (kay-sah'-dah), Spanish adventurer, born in Granada in 1495; died in Mariquita in 1597. He studied law in Seville, and in 1535 was appointed chief justice of the province of Santa Marta in South America. He commanded an expedition to explore the interior of the country. He left Santa Marta, 6 August, 1536, at the head of 900 men, and, after many hardships and more than a year of warfare with the Indians, conquered the plateau of Bogota, where, on 6 August. 1538, he founded a city, which he called Santa Fe, and the country New Granada.

Shortly afterward there arrived on the plateau of Bogota, from different directions, the exploring expedition of Sebastian de Velalcazar, one of Pizarro's lieutenants, who came from Quito, and Nicolas Federmann (q. v.), from Coro. Negotiations were opened among the three explorers; Federmann agreed, for $10,000, to turn over his forces to Quesada, and Velalcazar to retire to the southwestern provinces, leaving Cundinamarca to the first conqueror, pending the decision of the crown.

Quesada, leaving his brother, Hernan Perez, in charge, set out for Europe. He met the emperor at Ghent, but offended him by an ostentatious display of luxury, and he was also opposed by the friends of his former chief, Lugo, who had died. Quesada was passed over, and a son of Lugo, Alonso Luis, obtained the commission of governor of New Granada in 1542.

Shortly afterward Quesada obtained leave to join his brother in the New World, but was persecuted by the governor, imprisoned, and exiled. He resolved to seek justice in Spain, and returned to New Granada as commander-in-chief of the troops. In 1569, under the government of Diaz de Lena (q. v.), he made an unsuccessful expedition to discover "EL Dorado," returning from the banks of the river Guaviare. He was afterward reinstated as captain-general, and died, a centenarian, of leprosy. His remains were transported to the cathedral of Bogota.

QUESADA, Gonzalo Jimenez de (kay-sah'-dah), Spanish adventurer, born in Granada in 1495 ; died in Mariquita in 1597. He studied law in Seville, and in 1535 was appointed chief justice of the province of Santa Marta in South America. He commanded an expedition to explore the interior of the country. He left Santa Marta, 6 August, 1536, at the head of 900 men, and, after many hardships and more than a year of warfare with the Indians, conquered the plateau of Bogota, where, on 6 August. 1538, he founded a city, which he called Santa Fe, and the country New Granada. Shortly afterward there arrived on the plateau of Bogota, from different directions, the exploring expedition of Sebastian de Velalcazar, one of Pizarro's lieutenants, who came from Quito, and Nicolas Federmann (q. v.), from Coro. Negotiations were opened between the three explorers; Federmann agreed, for $10,000, to turn over his forces to Quesada, and Velalcazar to retire to the southwestern provinces, leaving Cundinamarca to the first conqueror, pending the decision of the crown. Quesada, leaving his brother, Hernan Perez, in charge, set out for Europe. He met the emperor at Ghent, but offended him by an ostentatious display of luxury, and he was also opposed by the friends of his former chief, Lugo, who had died. Quesada was passed over, and a son of Lugo, Alonso Luis, obtained the commission of governor of New Granada in 1542. Shortly afterward Quesada obtained leave to join his brother in the New World, but was persecuted by the governor, imprisoned, and exiled. He resolved to seek justice in Spain, and returned to New Granada as. commander-in-chief of the troops. In 1569, under the government of Diaz de Lena (q. v.), he made an unsuccessful expedition to discover "EL Dorado," returning from the banks of the river Guaviare. He was afterward reinstated as captain-general, and died, a centenarian, of leprosy. His remains were transported to the cathedral of Bogota.

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Samuel Huntington
First President of the United States of America
in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to July 6, 1781

President Who? Forgotten Founders Part II

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