Bishop Manso, as was customary at the time, became involved in politics. He became the eighth governor of Puerto Rico[2] in 1523 [3] . 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 Arellano, 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.
^ Bishop Manso was officially the 10th governor of Puerto Rico but Vicente Yáñez Pinzón, the first appointed governor, never arrived on the island and Juan Ponce de León held office as the 2nd and 6th governor of Puerto Rico.
^ Sources vary on whether he became governor on 1523 or 1522.
