He came to the Indes in 1495, during the second voyage of Christopher Columbus. He collaborated with Nicolas de Ovando in the "pacification" of the island of Hispaniola.
At the arrival of Diego Columbus, the latter encourages him to mount an expedition for the conquest of Cuba, in 1511. He founded the town of Baracoa in 1512, then Havana and Trinidad in 1514.
He supports shipments to Mexico, that of Hernandez de Cordoba in 1517, then the De Grijalva in 1518. He is associated then with Hernando Cortes, but is angry with him. Cortés leaves Cuba to Mexico in 1519, against the will of the governor, which sends an expedition led by Panfilo de Narváez to stop him and and get him back to Cuba. This expedition failed.
He is then the instigator of the rebellion of Cristóbal de Olid against Cortes in 1524. He dies the June 12, 1524 in Cuba.
