LEGASPI, Miguel Lopez de (lay-gas'-pee.), Spanish soldier, born in Zumarraga, Guipuzcoa, in 1524; died in Manila, 20 August, 1572. He came to New Spain in 1545, and was for some years chief notary to the common council and the civil governor of the city of Mexico. The viceroy, Luis de Velasco, appointed him in 1564 commander of the expedition that he was preparing by order of Philip II. for the conquest of the Philippine islands. The viceroy died in July of that year, but the audiencia, governing provisionally, completed the armament of the expedition, and on 21 November, 1564, Legaspi sailed, with four ships and a numerous force, from the port of Navidad. After visiting the whole Philippine archipelago and conquering Mindoro, he despatched one vessel, to report his progress, to Mexico, which arrived in Acapulco, 20 August, 1569. In 1570 he conquered the island of Luzon, and founded the city of Manila; where he died two years afterward. He wrote several despatches to the king about his conquest, which, under the title "Cartas al Rey Don Felipe II. sobre la expedicion, conquistas y progresos de las islas Felipinas," are preserved in manuscript in the archives of the Indies at Seville, Spain.