Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer who is credited with being the first European to reach Florida in 1513. He was also the first governor of Puerto Rico.
Also Read: List of Famous Explorers
Ponce de León was born in 1460 in the Spanish province of León. He served as a page in the royal court of Aragon and later fought in a campaign against the Moors in Granada. In 1502, he joined Christopher Columbus's second voyage to the Americas.
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Also Read: Christopher Columbus Timeline
In 1508, Ponce de Leon was granted permission by the Spanish crown to explore and settle the island of Puerto Rico.
He founded the first European settlement on the island, Caparra, in 1509. Ponce de Leon served as governor of Puerto Rico from 1509 to 1511, but he was removed from office by Diego Colon, the son of Christopher Columbus.
Also Read: Famous Spanish Conquistadors
In 1513, Ponce de Leon led an expedition to explore the coast of Florida. He is believed to have landed somewhere between St. Augustine and Melbourne Beach. Ponce de León named the land Florida, which means "flowery" in Spanish.
He was searching for the Fountain of Youth, a mythical spring that was said to restore youth to those who bathed in it.
Ponce de León returned to Florida in 1521 to establish a colony. However, he was attacked by a group of Native Americans and was fatally wounded by an arrow. He died on the way back to Cuba.
Family Overview
Juan Ponce de Leon came from a well-known family in Spain. They had a long history in the Spanish military and had served throughout the Moors wars and the Conquest of Granada.
His immediate family came from nobility, and there was much military opportunity that was given to him.
He may have had siblings, but there is no record of them.
He came to the Caribbean and found his first wife, and had four children.
After the first wife died, he married again but probably did not have any children with them.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Pedro Ponce de Leon (unknown) - He is most likely the father of the great Spanish conquistador. Although much is not known about him, he is the most likely candidate as the father of Ponce de Leon. He was a noble Lord and had influence in Spain.
Leonor de Figueroa (unknown) - She is the likely candidate as the mother of Ponce de Leon. It is unknown if she had any other children. She was born to a wealthy family in Spain with a proud history.
Spouse:
Leonora Nunez Gudiel de Prado (unknown) - They met and married in Hispaniola and had three daughters and one son. There is not much known about her vitals in the records. She died before he left Puerto Rico.
Second Wife (unknown) - I am not sure of her name or if they had any children. He was with her until his death, when he was trying to colonize Florida.
Children:
Maria Ponce de Leon (unknown) - She is believed to be the eldest child of his first marriage.
Isabel Ponce de Leon (unknown) - She was another daughter of Ponce de Leon, and there is not much known of them.
Luis Ponce de Leon (1500? - unknown) - He was the only son of Juan Ponce de Leon and had many children that would continue the line of the great explorer.
Juana Ponce de Leon (1500 - 1560) - She was 60 years of age when she passed. She and her husband had at least one daughter.
Siblings:
None - Possible. There were some, but there is no record.