 He journeyed to the Americas as a teenager, where he took part in the conquest of Peru under Diego de Almagro.On the removal of Francisco Ortiz de Vergara from office, he was the conquistadors' preferred choice to be his replacement, but the Royal Audience required he return to Spain for confirmation by the Council of the Indies while Felipe de Cáceres governed in his stead.He returned to Spain and was appointed the third "adelantado" of the Governorate of the Río de la Plata, with the goal of exploring and populating the lands, founding towns, and introducing cattle and horses.