It is thought that Ponce de Len first landed on the site where
Cockburn Town is, on Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos
Islands.
Soon settled in Hispaniola.
He helped conquer the Tainos of the eastern part of Hispaniola
and was rewarded with the governorship of the Province of Higuey
that was created there.
While there, he heard stories of the wealth ofBorinquen(now
Puerto Rico), and he sought and received permission to go
there.
4. Hispaniola
Haiti occupies the western third of the island; the eastern
two-thirds are the Dominican Republic.
5. Taino
Founded the first settlement in Puerto Rico, Caparra.
Greeted with open arms by the Taino Cacique Ageyban
Gained control of the island.
Named Governor of Puerto Rico in 1509
Forced the Tainos to work in the mines and to construct
fortifications
Tainos died in great numbers after exposure to the European
diseases the sailors brought with them, to which they had no
immunity
6. 7. Spanish Conquistador
Accompanied Columbus on his 2 ndvoyage
Governor of Puerto Rico
Married a Spanish Woman named Leonore
Had 2 daughters and 1 son
8. Diego Columbus
In 1506, upon the death of Christopher Columbus, who had been
appointed lifetime military governor of his discoveries, the
Spanish authorities refused to grant the same privilege to his son
Diego Columbus.
The Spanish Crown by then had selected Ponce de Len to colonize
and govern the island of Puerto Rico. In the meantime Diego
Columbus had taken his claim to the top court in Madrid and won his
rights
Ponce de Len was removed from office in 1511. Feeling that his
good name had been damaged and not wishing to serve Diego, Ponce de
Len obtained title to explore the areas north of Cuba.[2]
9. 10. Florida
Ponce de Len claimed "La Florida" for Spain. He named the
landLa Florida , meaningflowery , either because of the vegetation
in bloom he saw there, or because he landed there during Pascua
Florida, Spanish forFlowery Passover , meaning the Easter
season.
Pascua Florida Day , April 2, is a legal holiday in
Florida.
Discovered Florida while searching for the Fountain of
Youth
