Cayetano Valdés y Flores Cayetano Valdés y Flores Bazán ( 1767 – 1835 ) was a commander of the Spanish Navy , explorer , and captain general who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , fighting for both sides at different times due to the changing fortunes of Spain in the conflict . He took part in a number of naval battles , including the Great Siege of Gibraltar , the Battle of Cape St Vincent , and the Battle of Trafalgar . He was an explorer , most notable in the Pacific Northwest , where he and Dionisio Alcalá Galiano conducted the first circumnavigation of Vancouver Island , in partial cooperation with George Vancouver . Over his long career he achieved the highest ranks in the Spanish Navy , eventually being named Captain General of Cadiz and Captain General of the Spanish Navy . Early career . He was born in Seville in 1767 , and was the nephew of Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán . Cayetano Valdés joined the Naval Academy in Cadiz as a " guardiamarina " ( midshipman ) in 1781 . After finishing his studies he sailed with the fleet of Luis de Córdova and in 1782 saw action in the naval battle with the English fleet under Admiral Richard Howe , during the Great Siege of Gibraltar . In 1783 Valdés took part in a Spanish operation against Algiers in an effort to crush the rampant piracy and white slavery sponsored by the Dey . Malaspina and Galiano expeditions . In 1789 Valdés achieved a position as a lieutenant ( " teniente de navío " ) on the scientific expedition of Alessandro Malaspina . In 1791 Malaspina gave him command of the " goleta " " Mexicana " and orders to explore the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Strait of Georgia in an expedition under the command of another of Malaspina ' s officers , Dionisio Alcalá Galiano The term " goleta " is Spanish for a schooner - like ship but not necessary rigged as a schooner . The " Mexicana " began rigged as a topsail schooner but was changed during the voyage to a brig . During the summer of 1792 Valdés and Galiano circumnavigated Vancouver Island , meeting George Vancouver along the way . After working together for a time the two expeditions split up and arrived at Nootka Sound separately . Because Valdés and Galiano had begun their voyage around the island from Nootka Sound while Vancouver had begun at the Strait of Juan de Fuca , the Spaniards became the first Europeans to fully circumnavigate the island . Napoleonic Wars . In 1797 Valdés was in command of the ship of the line " Pelayo " at the Battle of Cape St Vincent when the British fleet of Sir John Jervis with Horatio Nelson defeated the Spanish . For valor during battle Valdés was promoted to Captain ( " capitán de navío " ) and gained a reputation as a strong fighter . By the terms of the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso the " Pelayo " was given to Napoleonic France and Valdés was given command of the " Neptuno " , then stationed at Brest , France . In 1801 he conveyed the commander of Spanish forces in Hispanola on a joint Franco - Spanish operation against the rebellious slaves in Haiti during the Haitian Revolution . After stopping in Havana he returned to Cadiz in 1802 , where he was appointed " brigadier de la Real Armada " . In 1805 , Valdés and the " Neptuno " were based in Cadiz as commodore of a squadron of ships , and so they were called on to fight when the French fleet attempted to make the open sea during the Trafalgar Campaign . On the 21 October the combined fleet was chased down and attacked in the Battle of Trafalgar . Valdés fought hard , his ship was leading the combined fleet and turned back into the melee behind him . Unfortunately the French ships accompanying the " Neptuno " under Admiral Dumanior did not turn back and so the isolated " Neptuno " was surrounded and suffered great damage . Valdés himself was seriously wounded and eventually lost consciousness . The disabled " Neptuno " was eventually forced to surrender . Although his ship was wrecked in the storm which followed the battle , Valdés and many of his shipmates survived , and thus he was in England when the Peninsular War broke out in Spain in 1808 . Immediately released and returning home , Valdés enlisted in the land army and participated in a battle at Espinosa de los Monteros on the staff of General Blake but mainly contented himself with administration and involvement in the Cadiz Cortes . For this service during the war he was appointed the Captain General in charge of Cadiz , but on the return of Ferdinand VII of Spain , he was stripped of his titles and was lucky to escape death during the repression which followed the restitution of an absolute monarchy . Later life . In the uprising of 1820 he was again heavily involved on the liberal side , and defended the Liberal Government although without much success , proving more adept as the short - lived government ’ s minister for war . Under a sentence of death , he fled to Gibraltar and then to England , where he lived for ten years . In 1833 Isabella II of Spain recalled Valdés and named him Captain General of Cadiz and later of the Spanish Navy . Vayetano Valdés died on June 6 , 1835 , in San Fernando , Cadiz . Legacy . Valdes Island , an island on the Strait of Georgia , is named for Cayetano Valdés , as is Cayetano Point on that island ' s southwestern end . Other features on Valdes Island that relate to the 1792 voyage include Mexicana Hill , named for Valdés ' s ship the " Mexicana " , Dibuxante Point , named for the artist José Cardero who sailed on board the " Mexicana " , and Vernaci Point , for Juan Vernacci y Retamal , one of Valdés ' s officers .