Juan Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer born around 1474 in Spain. He became an experienced fighter and sailor while fighting in the war against the Moors. In 1493, he was part of a fleet that established the first Spanish settlement in Puerto Rico, where he was later appointed governor. Ponce De Leon heard stories from the native people about a magical fountain of youth located somewhere nearby that could keep someone young forever. In 1513, he received permission from Spain to search for this fountain. His expedition landed on the coast of present-day Florida, becoming the first Europeans to set foot in what is now the continental United States, though he did not find the fountain of youth. Ponce De Leon eventually

1. Juan Ponce De Leon
By Andrew Slade

2. Ponce De Leons day of birth is uncertain but is
assumed to be in Spain during the year 1474. He was
also sent away to become a squire by the age of
nine.

3. Ponce De Leon became an experienced fighter and
sailer from fighting in the war against the Moors.

4. In September 1493 Colombus returned to Spain and
declared he had found new land and got Permission
to start a settlement there .

5. He soon sailed there with a fleet of around 20 ships
carrying over 1200 men and women and everything
he Needed to start a setlement. Ponce De Leon was
one of these men.

6. The fleet arrived the next November and claimed the
land for Spain it's now known as Puerto Ricco.

7. Ponce De Leon was awarded the role of governor for
his heroic actions defending Putrto Ricco from a
native attack .

8. While there he heard stories of a magical water
source that the people called the fountain of youth.
They said that drinking it's water kept you young
forever. Ponce De Leon decided he must find this
water source.

9. For the next few years Ponce De Leon tried to find
out were it is. Untill he finaly thought he knew. He
asked Spain for permission To find the fountain of
youth and was allowed but he had to buy everything
for it himself.

10. The young explorer did so redely and they were off
in march 1513 they sailed for Bimi .

11. They sailed for days but didnt see the island. On
march 27th they came within sight of the Florida
coast. On april 2nd he landed on what he called st.
augustin. This was the first Spanish setlement On
the mainland of north america

12. But sadly by the time he got there he was in need of
more supplies and returned to perto ricco. He soon
sailed back to Florida to start a settlement.

13. During one of his hunting trips accomponied by some
of his men he was attacked by some natives and
was wounded in the thigh by an arrow. he never
recovered and died of it sadly never finding the
fountain of youth.

14. To this day nobody has found the legendary fountain
of youth. It remains just a story for now but we
never know what could happen.

15. Resourses
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/pag
e/d/deleon.shtml
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/worl
dhistory/juanponcedeleon1.htm

16. Resources
The Expedition of Juan Ponce de Leon (1513). (n.d.).
Retrieved aprill 15, 2011, from
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