CORT É S, HERN Á N (c. 1485 – 1547)

CORT É S, HERN Á N (c. 1485 – 1547), Spanish explorer and conqueror of Mexico. The son of Mart í n Cort é s de Monroy and Catalina Pizarro Altamirano, Hern á n Cort é s was born in Medell í n, in southwestern Spain. His father sent him at age fourteen to study law at the University of Salamanca, but Hern á n had little taste for academic life. He was drawn instead to adventure and in 1504 sailed for the Caribbean, where he won lasting fame by conquering Aztec Mexico.

On Hispaniola, Cort é s served briefly as a notary and then assisted Diego Vel á zquez in the conquest of Cuba. He received an encomienda ...