Ponce de Leon

On April 2, 1513, explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain. He was the first named European to reach the Florida peninsula. Legend has it that he was looking for the rumored Fountain of Youth at the time. However, many historians believe the search for gold and desire of adding lands to the Spanish Empire may have more to do with it. He named the land Florida and first thought that it was a large island.

The conquistador sailed from Puerto Rico in March and sighted land on April 2nd. When Ponce de Leon returned from exploring some of Florida, he found the Carib Indians reeking havoc on the inhabitants of Puerto Rico. In fact, his own home had been burned, and his family had barely escaped. He eventually decided to return to Spain in order to report his findings to the king. King Ferdinand gave him a warm welcome and knighted him for his service.

Ponce de Leon returned to Puerto Rico in 1515, where he launched campaigns against the Caribs. However, these came to stop in 1516 when King Ferdinand died, and he needed to return to Spain to defend his titles and possessions. In 1521, he attempted to settle Florida for the last time. With around 200 men, livestock, and farming tools, they arrived in Florida to fight skirmishes against the natives, and Ponce de Leon was wounded by what was likely a poisoned arrow. The settlement expedition was abandoned, his men took him to  Cuba where he died, and he was buried in Puerto Rico at San Jose Church. Florida would remain in Spanish hands for more than 250 years.

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