Juan Ponce de León

Juan Ponce de Leon (1460-1521) was a Spanish nobleman, explorer and colonial governor. Looking for gold and a rumored "Fountain of Youth, he landed on the southeast coast of North America near present-day St. Augustine, Florida. He claimed the lands for Spain and named it La Florida (place of flowers). In 1521, on his second trip to Florida, he was wounded in an attack. The expedition returned to Cuba where he died in July 1521 from his wound.
Early life
Ponce de Leon was born in 1460 in Santervas de Campos, Spain. He was born into a poor but noble family. His parents may have died while he was still young. He was sent to the estate of Pedro Nunez de Guzman, Lord of Toral, to serve as a page. He became a soldier and fought against the Moors in Granada. He was probably with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage.
He eventually became a soldier and fought against the Moors in Granada. Like other conquistadores, Ponce de Leon soon sought fame and fortune through exploration, and it is believed he began his quest as part of Christopher Columbus's second expedition in 1493.
Hispaniola
Some ten years later he was a Captain under Nicolas de Ovando, the governor of the island of Hispaniola. Ponce de Leon put down a mutiny and was made governor of the eastern province of Hispaniola. Ponce de Leon received a substantial land grant which authorized sufficient Taino slave labor to farm his new estate.
Ponce de Leon prospered in this new role. He found a ready market for his farm produce and livestock at nearby Boca de Yuma. This was where Spanish ships stocked supplies before the long voyage back to Spain. In 1505 Ovando authorized Ponce de Leon to establish a new town in Higuey, which he named Salvaleon. In 1508 King Ferdinand authorized Ponce de Leon to conquer the remaining Tainos and exploit them in gold mining.
Around this time, Ponce de Leon married Leonora, an innkeeper's daughter. They had three daughters (Juana, Isabel and Maria) and one son (Luis). The large stone house Ponce de Leon ordered built for his growing family still stands today near the city of Salvaleon de Higuey.
Puerto Rico and Bimini
In 1508 Ponce de Leon led an expedition to what is now Puerto Rico. They searched for and found gold. After founding a colony there he was appointed governor.
Florida
First expedition
In 1513, with three ships, Ponce de Leon led an expedition to discover what is now the east coast of Florida. According to tradition, he landed at or near St. Augustine, Florida. He named the place La Florida. This is most probably because he landed during the Spanish Easter celebration called Pascua Florida. After exploring the coast further, they returned to Puerto Rico.
Second expedition
Ponce de Leon returned in 1521 with 200 settlers. They brought cattle, horses, and what they needed to farm the land. As they were building the settlement they were attacked by local Indians. In the fighting Ponce de Leon received a mortal wound, possibly by a poisoned arrow. The party returned to Cuba where Ponce de Leon died. He was buried in what is now San Juan before the alter of the Dominican church. His remains were later moved to San Juan cathedral.
Fountain of youth
The story of a fountain of youth goes back many centuries. Herodotus (425 - 484 BC) talked about a group he called the Macrobians who lived somewhere in modern day Ethiopia. He said they remained youthful, were physically strong and lived a long time. Calling it a fountain of youth came much later. The stories of Ponce de Leon and his search for a fountain of youth developed after his death. There is no mention of such a goal in any of his orders. In 1535 the Spanish historian Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes first stated Ponce de Leon was searching for a fountain of youth. The legend was repeated by later writers and embellished.
References
Spanish explorers
History of Florida