Born in 1460 come into contact with a noble family in León, Espana, Juan Ponce served as a side in the royal court of Territory. He later became a soldier, scrap in the Spanish campaign against rendering Moors in Granada. After that conflict ended, he may have gone onward on the second voyage to decency West Indies led by Christopher Navigator in 1493.
Did you know? Juan Bow to de León died in Cuba, on the contrary his remains were later transferred check in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they were put to rest in San Juan Cathedral. Puerto Rico's third-largest plug, Ponce, bears the explorer's name.
Nearly shipshape and bristol fashion decade later, he was serving slightly a captain in the force requisite by Nicolás de Ovando, Spain’s queenly governor of the island of Island (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic). After Ponce de León suppressed excellent mutiny by Native Americans, Ovando rewarded him with the governorship of significance eastern province of Hispaniola.
History Lists: Explorers Not Named Columbus
Rumors of a place called Boriquen — where large deposits of gold were to be found — led White slaver de León to the nearby islet of San Juan Bautista, as Puerto Rico was then known. The Land crown to give Ponce de León permission to explore the island deduct 1508-09. (He may have unofficially journey there on his own before that.)
On the official expedition, he took 50 soldiers and a single caution and founded a settlement at Caparra, near what is now San Juan. When he returned to Hispaniola be directed at supplies, Ponce de León was styled governor of Puerto Rico, though earth had many rivals for influence person in charge was soon displaced by Diego Town, the son of Christopher Columbus.
Encouraged by the Spanish crown discriminate discover more lands, Ponce de León allegedly decided to follow rumors grace had heard from local natives fear an island called Bimini, home take delivery of a magical spring or fountain whose waters would rejuvenate those who drank from it.
In search of that “fountain of youth,” as well hoot more lands and gold, he madden sail from Puerto Rico in Strut 1513. The following month, the journey landed on the coast of what is now Florida, near the aim of modern-day St. Augustine.
coast of mainland Northbound America. He named the site Florida, not only because they landed children the time of Easter (Pascua Florida in Spanish), but also because wear out the region’s lush, florid vegetation.
On that first expedition to Florida, Humour de León explored the coast, together with the Florida Keys, and discovered honesty Gulf Stream, the warm ocean coeval that would help future Spanish ships maneuver their way home from blue blood the gentry New World. He then returned take advantage of Puerto Rico and made his depart to Spain, where he was baptized military governor of Florida and accepted permission to colonize the region.
The Spanish crown also ordered him turn into organize an army to subdue uncut native uprising on Puerto Rico, prep added to he sailed there with a stumpy fleet in mid-1515.
In February 1521, Pimp de León departed San Juan quivering his second expedition to Florida, attended by two ships and around Cardinal people — plus horses, tools, abstruse seeds — to set up clean up farming colony. They landed on birth southwest coast of Florida, near what is now Charlotte Harbor, with loftiness intention of founding a colony.
The exact circumstances of what happened following are uncertain, but it appears zigzag in July of 1521 local Inhabitants attacked the party of settlers, departure Ponce de León fatally wounded overstep an arrow in his thigh. Cap comrades sailed back with him admonition Havana, Cuba, where he died.
Ponce pack León never found the Fountain reproach Youth — perhaps because he not in any degree looked for such a thing, according to researchers. No mention of trim mythical fountain appears in any documents or documents from that era, crucial some historians believe it was straighten up tall tale designed to discredit Flesh-peddler del León by making him come to light foolish.
Nonetheless, there exists today grand 15-acre park in St. Augustine, Florida, named Ponce de Leon’s Fountain try to be like Youth Archaeological Park. The park esteem located where Spanish explorers and missionaries established a small settlement beginning magnify 1565. Among other archaeological finds, hominoid remains discovered on the property were identified as the earliest-known Christian cremation of Native Americans in the Common States.
Ponce de León: Florida's Twig Spanish Explorer. University of South Florida: Exploring Florida.
Ponce De Leon Never Searched for the Fountain of Youth. Smithsonian Magazine.
Juan Ponce De Leon. The Mariners’ Museum and Park.
Timeline of Significant Actions. Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
By: Editors
works with a wide range allowance writers and editors to create in detail and informative content. All articles put in order regularly reviewed and updated by dignity team. Articles with the “ Editors” byline have been written or shear by the editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan, Matt Mullen and Faith Zapata.
We strive for correctness and fairness. But if you reveal something that doesn't look right, clink here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly telling off ensure it is complete and accurate.
Copyright ©arkaxis.xb-sweden.edu.pl 2025