Juan Ponce De Leon

Juan Ponce De Leon was born in 1474 and died on July 1521 he was only 47 years old. Ponce de Leon was an avid explore and conqueror. He traveled with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage and helped establish The New World later known as the Caribbean’s or the island of Hispaniola. In 1508 he was granted permission to explore land that is now Puerto Rico. Although Juan Ponce is recognized as the first explorer of The Island he was not. There was an earlier exploration and because Vicente Yáñez Pinzón did not fulfill his commission to settle the land the expedition was terminated by the current leaders of Spain. There was evidence of gold and good soil so Ponce took the opportunity and was later crowned governor of Puerto Rico by Ferdinand II.