Pedro Porter y Casanate (April 30, 1611 – February 27, 1662) was a Spanish Navy officer, explorer and colonial administrator who served as the Royal Governor of Chile from 1656 to 1662.
The year after, he joined the fleet of Admiral Francisco de Vallecilla, charged with protecting the silver galleons from pirate attacks.
He proceeded to take part in several conflicts in his time and in numerous naval expeditions in the Indies, as a consequence of which he was promoted to alférez in 1631, and sea captain in 1634.
[1] In 1635, he applied for and got from the Viceroy of New Spain marquis de Cerralvo a license to explore California, a territory that although located within the borders of the Spanish Empire was unknown whether it was an island or peninsula.
In 1656 he was designated as governor of the Captaincy General of Chile, in whose functions he took part in the Arauco War against the Mapuche rebels.