Juan Ponce de Leon
![Picture](/uploads/9/5/3/4/9534516/5661892.gif)
Juan Ponce de Leon was born in 1474 at Santervas de Campos, Castile and some relatives include Rodrigo Ponce de Leon and Marquis of Cadiz.
In the September of 1493 1200 sailors, colonists, and soldiers joined Christopher Columbus for his second voyage to the new world. Juan was a member of the expedition. The Team reached the Caribbean in November 1493 they visited several islands before arriving at Hispaniola. Little did he know that this would be a major role in his future.
In 1502 a governor named Nicolas de Ovando arrived in Hispaniola. His directive from the Spanish Crown was to bring order to a colony in disarray. In 1504 when the Tainos overran a small Spanish garrison on the eastern side of the island. Juan was assigned a major role in crushing this rebellion.
In 1506 Juan married Leonora, the daughter of an innkeeper. They had 3 daughters Juana, Isabel, and Maria; and one son Luis who grew up to be a poet. He built a large stone house for his family, in Puerto Rico and his house still stands today.
Legend has it that Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida while searching for the fountain of youth. Juan filled 3 ships with 200 men at his own expense and set out from Puerto Rico on March 4, 1513. The three ships were named Santiago, the San Cristobal, and the Santa Maria de la Consolacion. After leaving Puerto Rico, they sailed northwest along the great chain of Bahama Islands, known then as the Lucayos. By March 27, Easter Sunday, they reached the northern end of the Bahamas sighting an unfamiliar island (probably Great Abaco).
The colonists were soon attacked by Calusa braves. Juan Ponce de Leon was injured when an arrow poisoned with the sap of the Manchineel tree hit his body. After the attack Juan and the colonists went to Havana, Cuba and he died of the wound during his visit.
He was buried under the San Jose Church from 1559 to 1836. Later he was brought to the Cathedral of San Juan Church Bautista.
· He lived from 1460- 1521. He was the first person to step foot in what is present day St. Augustine, Florida. Juan was in search of the Fountain of Youth. He was born in 1460 and in Santervas, Spain. He also sailed for Spain in 1513. At first he ad not realized he had explored North America, instead his brain told him he was on an island. Since he lived in Spain he spoke Spanish which resulted in the naming of “Florida” witch means flowery. Ponce found nothing, so he thought so decided to head back to Spain. Ponce’s second trip in February 1521 ended up on the West coast of Florida. With two ships and two-hundred men. When he was there a large group of Native Americans shot arrows at Juan and his sailors. The wounds were so severe that he died in July.
In the September of 1493 1200 sailors, colonists, and soldiers joined Christopher Columbus for his second voyage to the new world. Juan was a member of the expedition. The Team reached the Caribbean in November 1493 they visited several islands before arriving at Hispaniola. Little did he know that this would be a major role in his future.
In 1502 a governor named Nicolas de Ovando arrived in Hispaniola. His directive from the Spanish Crown was to bring order to a colony in disarray. In 1504 when the Tainos overran a small Spanish garrison on the eastern side of the island. Juan was assigned a major role in crushing this rebellion.
In 1506 Juan married Leonora, the daughter of an innkeeper. They had 3 daughters Juana, Isabel, and Maria; and one son Luis who grew up to be a poet. He built a large stone house for his family, in Puerto Rico and his house still stands today.
Legend has it that Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida while searching for the fountain of youth. Juan filled 3 ships with 200 men at his own expense and set out from Puerto Rico on March 4, 1513. The three ships were named Santiago, the San Cristobal, and the Santa Maria de la Consolacion. After leaving Puerto Rico, they sailed northwest along the great chain of Bahama Islands, known then as the Lucayos. By March 27, Easter Sunday, they reached the northern end of the Bahamas sighting an unfamiliar island (probably Great Abaco).
The colonists were soon attacked by Calusa braves. Juan Ponce de Leon was injured when an arrow poisoned with the sap of the Manchineel tree hit his body. After the attack Juan and the colonists went to Havana, Cuba and he died of the wound during his visit.
He was buried under the San Jose Church from 1559 to 1836. Later he was brought to the Cathedral of San Juan Church Bautista.
· He lived from 1460- 1521. He was the first person to step foot in what is present day St. Augustine, Florida. Juan was in search of the Fountain of Youth. He was born in 1460 and in Santervas, Spain. He also sailed for Spain in 1513. At first he ad not realized he had explored North America, instead his brain told him he was on an island. Since he lived in Spain he spoke Spanish which resulted in the naming of “Florida” witch means flowery. Ponce found nothing, so he thought so decided to head back to Spain. Ponce’s second trip in February 1521 ended up on the West coast of Florida. With two ships and two-hundred men. When he was there a large group of Native Americans shot arrows at Juan and his sailors. The wounds were so severe that he died in July.