Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer born in 1475 in Spain who was inspired by Christopher Columbus to search for pearls along the northern coast of Venezuela. In 1513, he crossed the Isthmus of Panama and became the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean, claiming it and all its shores for Spain. However, he was later arrested under false charges and beheaded in 1519.

1. Who is Vasco Nunez de Balboa? By: Trenton Zuber

2. Birth Balboa was born in Jerez de los Caballeros Spain. 1475

3. Early life He had been inspired by Christopher Columbus to believe that pearls could be found on the northern coast of Venezuela http://www.lycos.com/info/francisco-pizarro.html

4. His mighty claim He claimed the Pacific Ocean and all its shores for Spain http://www.shaimas.com/serenity/april_2006-MainlandMexico.html Not yours mine

5. Fun fact to escape from his creditors he hijacked on a supply ship http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walker/Vasco%20de%20Balboa.html

6. Fun fact #2 He was he first European explorer to see the eastern part of the pacific ocean. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/b/balboa.shtml

7. The end of him Balboa was arrested (even though he was innocent and had been framed by a friend, Arias de Avila). Balboa was found guilty and was publicly beheaded in Acla in January, 1519.

8. Credits I found my info at Website made in 1996-2010 Today's date January 14 2011 http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/b/balboa.shtml