Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera was a Spanish soldier who became governor of the Philippines in 1635. His attention went south: in 1637 he personally led an attack on the Muslim sultanate in Mindanao, and the next year on Sulu.

In his accounts northern Taiwan was a loss. In 1626 the Spanish had built Fort San Salvador on Heping Island at Keelung and later Fort Santo Domingo at Tamsui, hoping for a trade route around the Dutch, but far fewer merchant ships came than expected, and every year Manila had to send money and men. In 1637 he decided to cut the garrison, ordered the Tamsui fort demolished and pulled all forces back to Keelung.

In August 1642 the Dutch came north. At Keelung only one bastion could still be held, and on the 28th the Spanish garrison surrendered. Sixteen years of Spanish rule in northern Taiwan ended on his watch.

He left office in 1644 and was promptly put through the customary review by his successor and held for five years. After his release he returned to Spain, later became governor of the Canary Islands, and died there in 1660.