Martín Fernández de Navarrete

Martín Fernández de Navarrete y Ximénez de Tejada (November 9, 1765 – October 8, 1844), was a Spanish noble, grandson of the Marquess of Ximenez de Tejada, knight of the Order of Malta, politician and historian. He was a Spanish senator and Director of the Spanish Royal Academy of History (1824-1844).

He rediscovered Las Casas' abstract of the journal Columbus kept, known as the ''Diario'', of his first voyage. His principal work is the ''Colección de los viages y descubrimientos que hicieron por mar los españoles desde fines del siglo XV'' (Collection of the voyages and discoveries made by the Spaniards since the late 15th century), a vast work published in five volumes that Navarrete wrote by appointment of the Spanish Crown. As a result of this achievement, he has acquired the nickname ''El Marino Historiador'' (The Mariner Historian).

Navarrete was a member of all the major Spanish and international Science and Arts Academies of his time. Provided by Wikipedia