Juan de leon ponce biography samples

Juan Ponce de Leon - was a Spanish explorer who is today best remembered for his discoveries in the North America. He was one of the first European who entered Gulf of Mexico and a leader of a first expedition that set foot on the Florida. In addition to his exploration, he gathered considerable fame as a successful politician, noble, governor and was very influential in spreading the myth of the Fountain of Youth , for which he claimed was located in Florida.

Juan Ponce de Leon was born in in Santervas, Spain sometimes between and as a son of a wealthy and noble family. After finishing his education by learning several languages, physics, geometry, mathematics and astronomy he joined the court of Spanish royal family where he served as a page to Pedro Nunuz de Guzman, Knight Commander of military order of Calatrava.

During early s he traveled the seas as a privateer, fighting against Moors in the Atlantic. However, after the hostilities ended, he found himself bored with the life on the land.

Ponce de león route

Seeing incredible potential in the recent discovery made by Christopher Columbus , he grabbed the first chance he got and joined Columbus on his second journey to West Indies in After several years at the sea, Juan Ponce de Leon gained significant knowledge about naval life. He visited Hispaniola where he confronted hostile native Indians, searched for gold in Haiti , and even founded a Spanish settlement there.

When Columbus decided that it is time for his return back to Europe in late , Juan Ponce de Leon decided to stay and try to use his newfound knowledge to expand his wealth.