He was one of the first European who entered Gulf of Mexico and a leader of a first expedition that set foot on the Florida. In addition to his exploration, he gathered considerable fame as a successful politician, noble, governor and was very influential in spreading the myth of the Fountain of Youth , for which he claimed was located in Florida.
Juan Ponce de Leon was born in in Santervas, Spain sometimes between and as a son of a wealthy and noble family. After finishing his education by learning several languages, physics, geometry, mathematics and astronomy he joined the court of Spanish royal family where he served as a page to Pedro Nunuz de Guzman, Knight Commander of military order of Calatrava.
During early s he traveled the seas as a privateer, fighting against Moors in the Atlantic. However, after the hostilities ended, he found himself bored with the life on the land. The expedition sailed back to Cuba, where he died in July He built a small financial empire that helped advance Spanish colonization in the Caribbean, and he might have gone even further had he been able to avoid political intrigue with the Columbus family.
Many historical sources agree that he treated the native people under his control better than most conquistadors. However, enslavement and disease took a very heavy toll on these populations and he faced several violent uprisings during his tenure as governor.
Though he acknowledges the existence of the fable in his memoir, he was by all accounts far too practical a man to waste time on such a fantasy amidst the building of his fortune. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who participated in the conquests of Central America and Peru and discovered the Mississippi River. He is best known for his explorations of the coast of California from Samuel de Champlain was a French explorer and cartographer best known for establishing and governing the settlements of New France and the city of Quebec.
Olivia Rodrigo —. Megan Thee Stallion —. He sailed in search of these riches to the island of Borinquen, which is now called Puerto Rico. He fought to conquer this island and claim it for Spain. In he was hired by Revlon, a cosmetic company, to search for the Fountain of Youth a body of water that would enable you to look young forever. Along with three ships and many men he set off to discover this fountain. On April 2, they arrived at St. Augustine, Florida and claimed this land for Spain.
Unfortunately, he did not find the Fountain of Youth. On his next voyage, quite by accident, Ponce de Leon discovered the Gulf Stream, which flows out of the Gulf of Mexico. This stream would become extremely important to sailors due to its strong current.
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