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Coronado was born in Salamanca, Spain to a wealthy aristocrat. He was the youngest son in the family.
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Coronado had no intentions of inheriting the family fortune and wanted to make his own fortune by going to the New World. He traveled to New Spain and reached New Spain by 1535. He got a position with the government and managed to marry Dona Beatriz, daughter of Alonso de Estrada, the colonial treasurer. He rose up within the colonial government, receiving appointment to the governship of Nuevo Galicia.
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Explorer Cabeza de Vaca and missionary Marcos de Niza spoke tales about seeing the cities of cíbola (cities of gold) in 1536 (Cabeza de Vaca) and 1539 (Marcos de Niza). Coronado heard about these stories and the following year led an expedition to further explore these claims. https://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/field/image/Cibola-the-Seven-Cities-of-Gold.jpg
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He was selected by the viceroy to a lead a mission find the cities of gold and explore what is now the American West.
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He explored America for 2 years, trying to find the cities of gold. He fought the Zuni Indians, and seperated his group into smaller groups that wants in different directions, One traveled over the Colorado Plateau, and one discovered the Grand Canyon. Coronado’s group had to fight for resources in the indian village with Pueblo’s made out of adobe. They crossed over the Pecos River, and traveled through what is now Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas before finally giving up.
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Coronado was not very happy, because he couldn’t find the cities of gold, and continued his duties as a governor for Nueva Galicia. Two years later, he was removed from his post during an investigation into his expedition. Coronado was charged with several offenses related to his conduct, including neglect of duty.
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Coronado spent his last few years of life in Mexico City. He served as a member of the council in Mexico City.
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Coronado died on September 22, 1554 in Mexico City
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While he did fail his mission to discover the cities of gold, he was one of the first European explorers that ever adventured out into the American West. Remembrances of him are known worldwide, some cities even have towns include Coronado in their name to this day.
