-
Native American group called "TImucua" by the Spanish inhabitate northeast Florida.
-
With a fleet of three vessels Juan Ponce de León began a six month quest for the Island of Bieniny that had been authorized a year earlier in a patent from King Ferdinand.
-
Juan Ponce de León sighted new land, called it La Florida. Six days later his fleet encountered the Gulf Stream, a strong current that would become the primary route for eastbound ships leaving the Spanish Indies bound for Europe.
-
By 1519 Spain's interest shifts to the Gulf Coast of Florida, closer to the silver deposits in Mexico.
-
Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón landed near present day Georgetown, South Carolina. On October 8, 1526 he and the colonizing group established the short-lived colony of San Miguel de Gualdape.
-
Tristán de Luna established the first Spanish setlement on Pensacola Bay, named Santa María de Ochuse. The remnants of the colony are withdrawn by the end of 1561.
-
Fort Caroline on the St. Johns River is established by French settlers led by Rne de Laudonniere.
-
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founds St. Augustine.
-
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés captures Fort Caroline, renames it Fort San Mateo
-
Between the end of September and the middle of October in 1565, under order by the king, Pedro Menéndex de Avilés captured and killed the shipwrecked Frenchmen (including Jean Ribault) from Fort Caroline. This slaughter eliminated the French presences in North America.
-
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established Santa Elena as the capital of Florida. Santa Elena is located near present day Parris Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina.
-
Fransiscan missionary friars arrive in La Florida. Nombre de Dios is established around this time.
-
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés dies in Santander, Spain. He was in Spain finding more settlers for La Florida.
-
Spanish settlers discover coquina stone on Anastasia Island. Coquina is used as building material for St. Augustine.
-
An expedition dispatched by Sir Walter Raleigh, found Roanoke Island.
-
Sir Francis Drake sacked and burned St. Augustine.
-
Jamestown was founded in 1607 by the London Company. It was the first permanent English in the New World.
