Was Ponce de León a good person?
Ponce de León was a product of his time — ambitious, hardworking and ruthless when the occasion called for it. He built a small financial empire that helped advance Spanish colonization in the Caribbean, and he might have gone even further had he been able to avoid political intrigue with the Columbus family.
Who found Florida first?
Juan Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León is credited with being the first European to reach Florida. In April 1513 he landed on the coast of Florida at a site between Saint Augustine and Melbourne Beach. He named the region Florida because it was discovered at Easter time (Spanish: Pascua Florida).
What were Ponce de León looking?

Fountain of Youth
The Spanish explorer was searching for the “Fountain of Youth,” a fabled water source that was said to bring eternal youth. Ponce de León named the peninsula he believed to be an island “La Florida” because his discovery came during the time of the Easter feast, or Pascua Florida.
What is Ponce de León’s real name?
Santervás de Campos
Juan Ponce de León
Marquess Juan Ponce de León | |
---|---|
Born | 1474 Santervás de Campos, Castile |
Died | July 1521 (aged 46–47) Havana, New Spain |
Resting place | Catedral Metropolitana Basílica de San Juan Bautista, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Nationality | Spanish |
Was Ponce de León a hero?
He thought of his family, and when he was the governor he thought of everyone in Puerto Rico because he gave gold to many people. He helped many people in certain things, like to another place. In conclusion, that is why Juan Ponce de Leon is considered a great hero.

How did Ponce de León treat the natives?
The Spanish, under Ponce de Leon, made the local natives (called the Tainos) work for them as slaves. They forced the Tainos to farm the land and mine for gold. Between the harsh treatment of the Spanish soldiers and new diseases (like smallpox) brought by the settlers, at least 90% of the Tainos died.
Where did Ponce de León come from?
Santervás de Campos, SpainJuan Ponce de León / Place of birthSantervás de Campos is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. As of 2009, the municipality has a population of 137 inhabitants and is known as the birthplace of Juan Ponce de León. Wikipedia
Who are the descendants of Ponce de León?
Maria Ponce de León
Isabel Ponce de LeónLuis Ponce de LeónJuana Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León/Descendants
What happened to Ponce de León?
The exact circumstances of what happened next are uncertain, but it appears that in early July local Natives attacked the party of settlers, leaving Ponce de León fatally wounded by an arrow in his thigh. His comrades sailed back with him to Havana, Cuba, where he died.
Who paid for Ponce de León’s?
Exploration of Puerto Rico and Search for Bimini Rumors of large amounts of gold to be found on the nearby island of San Juan Bautista (as Puerto Rico was then known) drove the Spanish crown to give Ponce de León permission to explore the island in 1508-09.
Who discovered America Columbus or Ponce de León?
1513 Ponce de Leon Discovers North America, Names Her ‘Florida’ April 2, 1513 — Spanish explorer, conquistador and former Governor Puerto Rico Juan Ponce De Leon leads three ships and 200 explorers who become the first Europeans to set foot on what is now the American mainland.