Juan Ponce de Leon
Where is he from? When was he born?
Juan Ponce de Leon was born around 1460 in Santervas, Spain. As an adult, he was a soldier and then a governor of Higuey.
Juan Ponce de Leon was born around 1460 in Santervas, Spain. As an adult, he was a soldier and then a governor of Higuey.
Where and why did he sail?
Originally, Ponce de Leon wanted to conquer a small island called Bimini, which is in the Bahamas. There were rumors of many riches being found on this island, including a mythical Fountain of Youth. If someone drank the water, they would remain young forever. Ponce de Leon and his crew of 200 men soon found their way to Saint Augestine, Florida. They landed there in 1513. He named the land "Pascua de Florida", which means "Feast of Flowers" in Spanish! Ponce de Leon returned to Spain, and made another journey in 1521. He landed in Florida again, but his men were met by vicious natives who attacked them with poisoned arrows. Ponce de Leon was wounded and then brought to Havana, Cuba where he died.
Originally, Ponce de Leon wanted to conquer a small island called Bimini, which is in the Bahamas. There were rumors of many riches being found on this island, including a mythical Fountain of Youth. If someone drank the water, they would remain young forever. Ponce de Leon and his crew of 200 men soon found their way to Saint Augestine, Florida. They landed there in 1513. He named the land "Pascua de Florida", which means "Feast of Flowers" in Spanish! Ponce de Leon returned to Spain, and made another journey in 1521. He landed in Florida again, but his men were met by vicious natives who attacked them with poisoned arrows. Ponce de Leon was wounded and then brought to Havana, Cuba where he died.