Felipe Gonzalez

1770 to 1771

Don Felipe Gonzalez was sent to Easter Island with the ship San Lorenzo and the frigate Santa Rosalia to report on its suitability for settlement and thus prevent the British from occupying a position too close to the South American coast. The Spanish persisted in regarding Easter Island as Davis Island, in spite of Roggeveen's discovery and naming of it. The island was found unattractive, and after annexing it to Spain, nothing further was done in the way of establishing settlement.