Ponce de leon

             Å¡ Juan Ponce De Leon was born in Palencia in.
             His first voyage was with Christopher.
             Columbus on his second voyage in 1493 and.
             he settled there in 1502. He governed a.
             settlement in Puerto Rico from 1509-1512. .
             In 1509 when he discovered gold on the.
             island he quickly became on of the most.
             wealthy Spaniards of the time. .
             Å¡ Next he set out to try to find an island.
             rumored to be north of Cuba called Bimini. .
             There were many legends which claimed.
             that Bimini was where the Fountain of.
             Youth was located. Legend said that.
             someone who drank of its water would be.
             cured of all his illnesses and would always.
             be young and youthful. This was what he.
             hoped to find. He left Puerto Rico on March.
             3, 1513, sailing in a northwestern direction,.
             and Landed in Florida on April 2, just north.
             of the present day St. Augustine remaining.
             there for 6 days. .
             Å¡ On this journey he found the Bahama.
             Channel which gave a shorter route between.
             Cuba and Europe, which is still used to this.
             day. .
             Å¡ On later voyages Leon also explored the.
             Florida keys. .
             Å¡ Everywhere he went he noticed the.
             overwhelming Indian Presence, many were.
             what could have been considered cannibals,.
             and others merely felt threatened and the.
             need to fight to defend themselves. This.
             fighting was very dangerous, and became.
             fatal for Leon. On a warm day in July 1521.
             while building some shelters for his men, he.
             feel under attack of an Indian tribe and.
             suffered from mortal arrow wounds. He left.
             for Cuba and died there.