Micronesia, meaning tiny islands, was first discovered by Ferdinand Magellan who was from Portugal but commissioned by Spain to explore a route to the Spice Islands. After Magellan's discovery of the Mariana Islands, many more expeditions were made to the Micronesian region. For the purpose of this project, listed below are names of ships and the dates in which they either ported or passed the islands in the Western and Central Caroline Islands or what is now known as the FSM. Note that no Spanish ship was reported to have had contact with Kosrae, this could be the lack of information documented by Spanish expeditions or the fact that Kosrae was not of interest to the Spanish mission and administration. Click on each state to view Spanish explorers, ships, and years in which these islands were visited: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap.
| YEAR | SHIP | COMMANDER | ISLAND CONTACTED/SPOTTED |
| Chuuk | |||
| 1565 | Patache SAN LUCAS | Alonso de Arello |
Seperated from Legazpi's expedetion, anchored off Toloas. Traded with islanders but were driven off by hostile canoes |
| 1799 | Frigate from the Philippines | Lt. Juan Ibargoitia | Sighted Pulusuk, Puluwat, and Ulul |
| 1801 | Frigate | Lt. Juan Ibargaitia |
Returned 2nd time around, sighted Pulusuk, Puluwat and probably Pulap |
| 1806 | Vessel PALA | Capt. Juan Baptista Monteverde | Sighted low island "San Raffael" - Nama or Oroluk |
| 1814 | Brig SAN ATANIO of Manila | Capt. Manuel Dublon | Chuuk lagoon - no first hand contact |
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Kosrae
(None)
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| Pohnpei | |||
| 1528 | Ship FLORIDA | Alvaro de Saavedra |
On his first attempt to recross the Pacific from the Moluccas, sighted probably Pingelap, Ngatik, or Mokil |
| 1529 | Ship FLORIDA | Alvaro de Saavedra |
Second attempt to recross the Pacific, sighted possibly Pohnpei (main land) |
| 1595 | Ship SAN GERONIMO | Pedro Fernandez de Quiros |
Sighted island - called "Quirosa" - Pohnpei and Ant |
| 1773 | Ship NUESTRA SENORADE LA CONSOLACION | Capt. Filepe Tompson | Sighted Ngatik - called them "Los Valientes" |
| 1802 | Unnamed vessel | Joaquin Lafita | Sighted Ngatik |
| 1806 | Frigate PALA | Capt. Juan Baptista Monteverde | Sighted Nukuoro - called "Dunkin Island" |
| C 1864 - 1865 | Frigate BERNGUNUELA | Sighted Kapingamarangi | |
| Yap | |||
| 1527 | Ship Florida | Alvaro de Saavedra | Fais and Yap Proper |
| 1543 | Flagship SANTIAGO | Ruy Lopez de Villalobos | Fais and Yap Proper |
| 1565 | Putache SAN LUCAS | Alonso de Arellano of the Legazpi Expedition | Sorol and Ngulu |
| 1686 | A Vessel from Manila | Francisco Lazcano | Name islands sighted Carolina maybe Yap or Ulithi |
| 1696 | Ship from Manila | Juan Rodriguez | Faraulep |
| 1705 | A Vessel | Captured and commanded by William Dampier | Yap |
| 1711 | Galleon NUESTRA SENORA DEL ROSARIO | Ngulu | |
| 1712 | Patache SANTO DOMINGO | Bernardo de Egui | Ulithi |
| 1731 | Vessel from Guam | Brought Frs. Juan Cantova and Victor Walter | Ulithi |
| 1733 | Vessel from Guam | Brought Fr. Victor Walter | Ulithi |
| 1809 | Ship MODESTO | Capt. Jose Maria Fernandez | Sighted Faraulep, West Fayu, and Pikelot |
| 1836 | Two unnamed vessels, a brig and schooner |
While searching for beche-de-mer were cut off at Yap and their crewmembers murdered - only two Filipino boys survived |
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| 1874 | Unnamed warship |
Visited Woleai, crew repeatedly down many breadfruit and coconut trees, leaving the people starving afterwards |
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| 1881 | Brigantine MANUEL | Capt Joaquin Villarte | Yap Proper |
| 1882 | Steamer ROMEO |
Picked up 12 persons from mailship Agustin, wrecked in Yap. |
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| 1883 | Steamer CASTELLAO |
Brought personnel and materials for a Spanish Factory to be set-up in Yap Proper |
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| 1885 | Steamer VELASCO | Capt. Emilio Burton y Serna |
Exploratory voyage to gather information before the Spanish asserted claims to the region |
