Ponce de Leon Timeline

Ponce de Leon was born somewhere between 1460-1474, but it is generally believed it is 1460.

He sailed with Christopher Columbus in 1493, and became governor of Hispanola.

Ponce de Leon works under Nicolas de Ovando and proves his worth.

Nicolas de Ovando authorizes Ponce de Leon to crush the Taino rebellion, and he does so very well. So, he was appointed frontier governor of the newly conquered territory.

He is commissioned to explore Puerto Rico under the Spanish crown, after another explorer's commission expired. There is a possibility that he had done an exploration as early as 1506, but under the radar because of the other person's commission.

He marries Lenora, an innkeepers daughter, and has three children. He builds a house on his territory, part of a large land grant from the Spanish government for his service.

His expedition to Puerto Rico has collected precious metals and resources from Puerto Rico, and they are running low on supplies. They return to Hispanola once again. When he returns to Hispanola, he is named governor of Puerto Rico.

Ponce de Leon's authority over his territory is threatened when Diego Colon, Christopher Columbus's son, arrives to Hispanola acting Viceroy. He replaces Nicolas de Ovando and circumvents Ponce's authority over Puerto Rico. But, in March of 1510, Diego Colon is arrested and sent back to Spain. But, in the end, he does lose governance of Puerto Rico by the political manuvering of Colon.

This is Ponce de Leon's first sighting of La Florida, and they land on shore the following day.

They Calusa tribe refused to trade with the Spanish, and drove them off. Shortly after that they arrived in the vicinity of Charlotte Harbor.