10 Interesting Juan Ponce De Leon Facts

Wednesday, May 14th 2014. | People


Juan Ponce De Leon facts provide the information about the famous person who contributes much with the exploration in America.  The discovery of New World involved with the new colonization in the area. Let’s find out about his personal life, involvement in American exploration and family life by reading the following post below:

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 1: date of birth

Let’s begin the explanation about Ponce De Leon from his date of birth. De Leon was born in 1460 in Santeria’s, Spain.

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 2: a wealthy family

Ponce de Leon was lucky enough since he was born from a noble and rich family in Spain. In the Spanish court, he worked as a page. The young Ponce de Leon was well educated.

Juan Ponce De Leon explorer

Juan Ponce De Leon explorer

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 3: Privateer

His first career on the sea was as a privateer. He made some voyages and attacked the ships of the moors.

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 4: Christopher Columbus

His big contribution was in the second voyage of Christopher Columbus. He was one of the crew members in the ship which sallied on September 25, 1493. The ship traveled to reach Hispaniola and Haiti from Cadiz.  The fleet consisted of 16 ships and 1500 crews. Check Christopher Columbus facts here.

Juan Ponce De Leon Florida

Juan Ponce De Leon Florida

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 5: the first settlement

The first settlement that Ponce De Leon established was in Puerto Rico in 1508.

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 6: a patent

He got a patent from King Charles V on 23rd February 1512. It gave him a right to explore Bahamas. He got total jurisdictions. His new title was Adelantado.

Juan Ponce De Leon Image

Juan Ponce De Leon Image

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 7: Florida

On 2 April 1513, he landed on Palm Sunday, Florida. At first, this island was named Pascua de Florida. It means feast of flowers.

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 8: colonization in Florida

Ponce de Leon was ready to make colonization in Florida after he used two ships to sail on the island in 1521. When he was in the Pone Island, the Calusa Indians attacked him and his crews. During the incident, he was wounded by a poisoned arrow.

Juan Ponce De Leon Pic

Juan Ponce De Leon Pic

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 9: death

After the incident, he came back to Havana, Cuba. However, his poisoned wound made him died in 1521. You can visit the cathedral in Old San Juan to see his tomb.

Juan Ponce De Leon Facts 10: first governor

Juan Ponce De Leon is not only famous as a soldier and explorer. People also knew him as the first governor of Puerto Rico.

Juan Ponce De Leon

Juan Ponce De Leon

The one discovered the Gulf Stream was Ponce de Leon. This stream was the main transportation line used by the Spanish people to make a trip from Europe to America. Are you interested with facts about Ponce De Leon?


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