Domingo de Bonechea

Domingo Bernardo de Bonechea Andonaegui was a Spanish Navy officer and explorer. He is known for having tried to incorporate Tahiti into the Spanish Empire. De Bonechea's exploratory voyages were commissioned by the viceroy of Peru, Manuel de Amat y Junyent, who was concerned that James Cook's explorations might lead to the creation of British bases from which to attack Peru. De Bonechea reached Tahiti only weeks after the first voyage of James Cook, and indeed found an axe left there by Cook's expedition. He recorded a great many local native words.