GARCIA, Diego, Portuguese navigator, born in Lisbon in 1471; died in Madrid in 1529 (according to Sala, about 1535). He entered the Spanish service in his youth, and undertook in 1511 an expedition to South America, the accounts of which have been lost. Gareia was at Palos de Moguer when Charles V. resolved to send an expedition to explore the southern seas under Sebastian Cabot, and at the same time the mercantile company, formed for the spice-trade at Coruna, fitted out an expedition, of which the command was given to Garcia. He sailed with three vessels, 15 January 1526, from Cape Finisterre, and, after a long and stormy passage, anchored in San Vicente, 11 January 1527. There he found a Portuguese settler, Joao Romalho, who had been abandoned on the coast by the first discoverer of Brazil, Pedro Alvarez Cabral, and from him obtained provisions. After exploring the Uruguay River, and sailing up the Parana as far as 27° S., he met, in July, 1527, a launch, manned by Europeans, from whom he learned that Sebastian Cabot, whose expedition had left Spain after him, was besieged by Indians farther down the river. Garcia sailed immediately to his aid, and, after de-fearing the Indians in several battles, continued to explore the upper course of the River, and, leaving his ships at the mouth of the Paraguay, ascended that River in his boats as far as 18° S. He fought continuous battles with the Indians, and, not finding any precious metals, abandoned his exploration, and in October, 1528, sailed for Spain. He is said to have made, about 1532, a voyage to the East Indies, in which he discovered the fertile Island named after him, situated about 400 miles from Mauritius. Gareia's narrative of his expedition, with a map, was published in the 15th volume of the "Revista do instituto historico e geographico do Brasil." See also A dolpho de Varnhagen's"' Historia Geral do Brasil," and Ferdinand Denis's "Le Bresil."