Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth

Spanish Explorer was the First European in Florida

Jun 2, 2009

Ponce de Leon has been long associated with the search for the Fountain of Youth, but was he really looking for it?

Juan Ponce de Leon was born around 1460 in Santervas, Spain. A soldier in the Spanish army he spent time fighting against the Muslims in southern Spain in the early 1490s during the wars of Queen Isabella.

With Columbus

When he learned of the success of an expedition headed by Christopher Columbus he was determined to become a part of this new adventure and sailed with Columbus on his second expedition in 1493. Ponce de Leon remained in the New World and was appointed governor of the Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) province of Higuey.

Puerto Rico

From here he sailed to and conquered the nearby island of Borinquen (Puerto Rico) in the name of Spain. Ponce de Leon was appointed governor of this island but when his extreme brutality towards the inhabitants led to a revolt, he was removed from office in 1511.

Seeking Bimini

Relieved of his duties as governor, Ponce de Leon outfitted three ships, Santa Maria, Santiago and San Cristobal, and set out to explore. Leaving Puerto Rico in March 1513 his destination was a island to the north called Bimini, where he had been told there was much gold and a river whose water would make one young. He stopped first at Grand Turk Island and San Salvador and in early April he stepped ashore on a land unknown to Europeans. He claimed the land for Spain and called it Pascua de Florida (Easter Flowers). Ponce de Leon set out again a few days later to continue the unsuccessful search for the waters of youth.

In time the three ships returned to Puerto Rico after fighting with the native peoples in Florida. He assisted in putting down a rebellion on Puerto Rico and then returned to Spain. When the king learned that Florida had been added to his dominions he appointed Ponce de Leon Captain General. In September 1514 he returned to the Caribbean to resume his search for the elusive waters of youth.

Captain General of Florida

With his new title came the duty of settle the new found Florida. In 1521, Ponce de Leon left Puerto Rico with two ships stocked with two hundred colonists, livestock and tools for building a settlement. Heavy storms hampered their progress but in time they landed on the west coast of Florida. A barrage of arrows from warriors who were reluctant to let the Spaniards ashore met the colonists. Ponce de Leon led a number of attacks but his settlers suffered many wounded, including the Captain General himself. The expedition returned to Cuba where Ponce de Leon died from his wounds in July 1521.

Fountain of Youth

Not far from where the expedition attempted to land is Warm Mineral Springs. It has been assumed that Ponce de Leon chose this site believing this to be the mythical Fountain of Youth. It is interesting to note, however, that while Ponce de Leon may have heard the legend of the Fountain of Youth, none of the writings of the time associated his name with it. Even Ponce de Leon’s own accounts of the expedition do not mention waters of youth. The first mention was not made until the historian Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo published an account in 1535 and subsequent writers continued the reference.

The copyright of the article Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth in Explorers is owned by William Silvester. Permission to republish Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.