Juan Ponce de Leon: First Explorer of Florida and First Governor of Puerto Rico

While he is now primarily associated with the quest for the legendary Fountain of Youth, Ponce de Leon was not merely involved in this fruitless search. A powerful figure in the Caribbean, he became the first governor of Puerto Rico. He led the first European expedition to Florida and was responsible for giving the state its name. The title discusses Ponce de Leon’s treatment of Native Americans and the issues with crediting him with the discovery of Florida despite the Native Americans already living there and the possibility of earlier visits by Spanish slave-taking expeditions.