HUELVA, Alonso Sanchez de (wail'-va), Spanish navigator, lived in the latter part of the 15th century. He was born in the small town of Huelva, near Moguer, and from that town he took his surname. He is generally credited with the first discovery of the New World, as it is asserted that he was cast by a tempest on the shores of North America, and, being saved with three or four sailors, returned to the island of Madeira; and that from him Columbus obtained his first information of the continent, and was guided by this in his discovery. As Huelva's original manuscript was lost, the tradition of his voyage was set down as fabulous, but later researches seem to confirm the tradition, and such writers as George Horn, Laet, Alderete, Jose de Acosta, Grotius, and Hakluyt appear to give it full credit. Mariana affirms that there are authentic proofs of Huelva's landing at Madeira. Garcilaso de la Vega credits Huelva with the discovery of South America. Ferdinand Denis, in his "Articles critiques," Fray Geronimo de la Concepcion, in his "Cadiz Ilustrado," and Diego da Costa, in "Ocios de Espanoles Emigrados," also mention Huelva's discovery.