The life and adventures of Florida's greatest conquistador (explorer.)

His Early Life
Juan Ponce de Leon was born in Tierra de Campos Palencia, Spain. As a boy he was hired to deliver messages to the royal court. Later he served in many military campaigns against the Muslims until 1492 when they were driven out of Spain. After sailing with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the new world in 1493, Ponce de Leon remained in Santo Domingo.
The fountain of youth
As a reward for his service to Spain, Ponce de Leon was given the right to find Bimini, one of the islands in the Bahamas. The fountain of youth was supposed to be in Bimini. Legend has it that anyone who drank from the fountain would never grow old. He organized an expedition to find the fountain in March of 1513. He landed near the site of what is now St. Augustine, Florida, not knowing that he had landed in North America. He named it La Florida (LAH flow Ree dah) or 'place of flowers'. The next day he claimed the land in the name of the king of Spain. Ponce de Leon sailed through the Florida keys to Cuba and found nothing. He and his men turned back and sailed home to Spain.
Return to Florida
In 1521, Ponce de Leon returned to Florida again to build a colony. He landed on the Gulf beaches between Charlotte Harbor and Estero Bay with over 200 settlers, horses, tools, and seeds. The plan was to set up a farming colony. Going inland for fresh water, the Calusa (Indians) ambushed them. Ponce de Leon was shot in the thigh by a poisoned arrow. The decision was made to abandon the settlement and sail back to Cuba.
As a result of his wound, Ponce de Leon died at the age of 61 in Cuba. He will always be remembered as the brave, young conquistador who first claimed, and then named Florida. He is buried in the Cathedral in old San Juan.