|
JUAN PONCE DE LEON
|
three ships, the SANTA
|
|
(1460?-1521) was a
|
MARIA, the SANTIAGO,
|
|
SPANISH explorer and
|
and the SAN CRISTOBAL,
|
|
SOLDIER who was the
|
and about 200 men.
|
|
first EUROPEAN to set
|
After stops at Grand
|
|
foot in FLORIDA . He
|
Turk Island and San
|
|
also established the
|
Salvador, they reached
|
|
OLDEST European
|
the east coast of
|
|
settlement in PUERTO
|
Florida (St. Augustine)
|
|
RICO and discovered
|
in April 1513. Ponce de
|
|
the GULF STREAM
|
Leon named the land
|
|
(a current in the Atlantic
|
"Pascua de Florida"
|
|
Ocean). He was also
|
(FEAST OF FLOWERS)
|
|
searching for the legendary
|
because they first
|
|
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
|
spotted land on
|
|
and other riches.
|
April 2, 1513, Palm
|
|
|
Sunday. He then
|
|
He was born in SANTERVAS,
|
claimed the land for
|
|
Spain around 1460. In
|
SPAIN. He explored
|
|
his younger years he
|
the state between
|
|
served as a SQUIRE
|
1513 and 1521.
|
|
and earned the nickname
|
|
|
"POOR KNIGHT". From
|
They left on April 8,
|
|
that day forward he
|
heading south in the
|
|
trained himself in
|
warm current now
|
|
the art of WARFARE.
|
known as the Gulf Stream.
|
|
Ponce de Leon later
|
This oceanic current
|
|
fought MUSLIMS in
|
would become very
|
|
southern Spain in
|
important for Spanish
|
|
the early 1490's. He
|
trips from Europe to
|
|
sailed on CHRISTOPHER
|
America. On the return
|
|
COLUMBUS' second
|
trip, a FIGHT broke out
|
|
expedition to the
|
between Ponce de
|
|
Americas in 1493. Ponce
|
Leon's men and
|
|
de Leon did not return
|
NATIVE Americans in
|
|
to Spain with Columbus;
|
southern Florida. They
|
|
he stayed in Santo Domingo
|
sailed to Cuba, then
|
|
where today it is known
|
headed north, again
|
|
as the DOMINICAN
|
trying to find Bimini
|
|
REPUBLIC. There he
|
(but instead, finding
|
|
became a military
|
Andros Island).
|
|
COMMANDER and a
|
|
|
deputy GOVERNOR .
|
After returning to Puerto
|
|
|
Rico, Ponce de Leon
|
|
He later heard of GOLD
|
resumed fighting with
|
|
in the neighboring island
|
the Native Americans
|
|
of Borinquen known as
|
(putting down their
|
|
PUERTO RICO and
|
rebellions against
|
|
conquered the island,
|
Spanish rule). He
|
|
claiming it for Spain.
|
returned to Spain and
|
|
He was then appointed
|
was named a CAPTAIN
|
|
governor of this island.
|
GENERAL by the King
|
|
Due to his extreme
|
of Spain on Sept 27, 1514,
|
|
BRUTALITY to Native
|
and again sailed to
|
|
Americans, he was
|
Puerto Rico to search
|
|
removed from office
|
for the elusive Bimini.
|
|
in 1511.
|
|
|
|
His last expedition was
|
|
Ponce de Leon begged
|
another search for Bimini
|
|
and persuaded the king
|
in 1521. His force of 200
|
|
to grant him men and
|
men landed on the west
|
|
ships to search for
|
coast of Florida, but
|
|
the infamous "fountain
|
were met by the CALUSA
|
|
of youth" (a legendary
|
INDIANS, who WOUNDED
|
|
spring that gave people
|
many of the men with
|
|
ETERNAL LIFE and
|
arrows, including
|
|
HEALTH). He was then
|
Ponce de Leon. Ponce
|
|
given the right to find
|
de Leon later died in
|
|
and take the island
|
Havana, Cuba, from
|
|
of BIMINI (in the
|
this WOUND (in July, 1521).
|
|
Bahamas); he also
|
He is buried in San Juan,
|
|
began searching for
|
Puerto Rico. Even with
|
|
this fountain. He sailed
|
all his discoveries he
|
|
from Puerto Rico on
|
was never able to
|
|
March 3, 1513, with
|
find the "fountain of youth".
|