 Gálvez sent settlers from the Canary Islands, known as Isleños, to Galveztown in 1779, hoping to establish a military stronghold against the British in West Florida, who controlled nearby Baton Rouge at the time.The plans for the town called for it to be built in traditional Spanish "villa" layout including a military fort or presidio, although evidence of the town's actual layout, including the fort, is limited.From the start, diseases such as smallpox and scabies spread in the area.