FERNANDEZ

Juan, Spanish navigator. Born in Cart a gena, he attained distinction as a navigator by observing the course of the trade winds and the currents off the west coast of South America. During one of his voyages, he discovered, in the S. Pacific, the islands now bearing his name, one of which became famous as the residence of Alexander Selkirk. He obtained a conce ion of them in 1572 and attempted unsucce fully to found there a colony of Indians.