Alonso Manso

Alonso Manso (1460 – September 27, 1539) was a Spanish Catholic prelate who served as the first Bishop of Puerto Rico (1511–1539) and the first Bishop of Magua (1504–1511). He was also Governor of Puerto Rico from 1523 to 1524.

Biography Alonso Manso was born in Becerril de Campos, Spain and studied theology at the University of Salamanca. He became the canon of Salamanca and the chaplain of the prince Don Juan. On November 15, 1504, he was appointed bishop of Magua, Dominican Republic. On March 3, 1512, he was consecrated bishop by Diego de Deza, Archbishop of Sevilla. in 1523. However, his stay in power was short lived as he was replaced a year later by Pedro Moreno, the man who, incidentally, he had replaced.

Bishop Manso was the precursor of many acts in the New World. Aside from establishing the first advanced studies school he performed the first episcopal consecration in the New World when in 1529, at the Cathedral of San Juan, he consecrated Sebastián Ramírez de Fuenleal, elected bishop of Santo Domingo. He also founded two hospitals, Concepción (which was the first hospital built in Puerto Rico) and San Ildefonso hospital. Bishop Manso died in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1539 at the age of 79. He was succeeded as bishop of Puerto Rico by Rodrigo de Bastidas y Rodriguez de Romera in 1541.