Defensor Football Club was founded in Punta Carretas , Montevideo in 1913. In 1906 there had been another Punta Carretas club called Defensores de la Huelga.
Defensor went from the third to the first division in successive seasons. After a disastrous league season in 1917 saw them finish in bottom place, Defensor ended operations in 1918.
The club was revived as Club Atlético Defensor in 1922.