Timeline: Ponce de Leon

Sep 3, 1474

Birth

Juan Ponce de Leon was born in 1474

Sep 28, 1474

Baptized

Baptized in Catholic Church in Santervás De Campos, Valladolid Province, Spain

Aug 5, 1493

Joined Columbus' second voyage

At age 19, joined Columbus' second voyage to the Indies

Aug 4, 1496

Governor of the Dominican Republic

Served as the Governor of the Dominican Republic

Aug 1, 1506

The death of his wife

At age 32, after the untimely death of his wife, Ponce de Leon spent the next seven years raising his motherless children

Jun 17, 1509

Governor of Puerto Rico

At age 35, confirmed as Governor of Puerto Rico

Oct 1, 1512

Seek and claim the mysterious "Island of Beniny"

At age 38, was issued an official charter by the Spanish Crown to seek and claim the mysterious "island of Beniny", to the north

Mar 30, 1513

Anchored at south of Cape Canaveral, Florida

Anchored at 28 degrees N. latitude and 80 degrees 29 minutes W. longitude, south of Cape Canaveral, Florida, at Melbourne Beach, Florida..

Aug 27, 1513

Exploring more of Florida

Explored the West Coast of Florida, especially the area around Sanibel Islan

Sep 5, 1513

Exploring Florida

Explored the East Coast of Florida.

Oct 4, 1513

The first landing in Florida

Made landfall and named the land “La Florida”. This was the first landing in Florida

Nov 4, 1513

Returning to Puerto Rico

Returned to Puerto Rico

Nov 22, 1513

Preparing for the journey

Prepared three ships, two caravels, the "Santiago" and the "Santa Maria de la Consolación, and a bergantina, the "San Cristóbal", at his own expense, to undertake the journey.

Aug 2, 1514

The governor of Florida

Spanish King Ferdinand conferred on Ponce de Leon the title of "Adelantado" or governor of the island of La Florida, and authorized him to establish a permanent settlement, but, only after he cleared the islands east and south of Puerto Rico of the threat of the Carib indians.

Aug 15, 1514

Returning to Spain

Ponce de Leon returned to Spain to report on his voyage and to lay claim to the newly discovered island of La Florida.

Apr 1, 1521

Establishing permanent settlements

Ponce de Leon sailed from Puerto Rico in two ships loaded with settlers and gear to establish a permanent settlement and fort on the shores of La Florida. They are believed to have chosen Sanibel Island as the site.

Oct 2, 1521

Eliminating the Carib indians

Ponce de Leon eliminated the threat of the Carib indians in the islands, as instructed by King Ferdinand.

Oct 2, 1521

A painful wound

After many attacks by the Calusa Indians, and after receiving a painful wound, Ponce de Leon abandoned the settlement effort and returned to the safety of Cuba.