Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth

Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth Juan Ponce de Leã ³n (1474-1521) was a Spanish voyager and conquistador. He was one of the principal pioneers of Puerto Rico and was the primary Spaniard to (formally) visit Florida. Hes best recalled, in any case, for his quest for the amazing Fountain of Youth. Did he truly look for it, and provided that this is true, did he discover it? The Fountain of Youth and different Myths During the Age of Discovery, numerous men became involved with the quest for unbelievable spots. Christopher Columbus was one: he professed to have discovered the Garden of Eden on his Third Voyage. Other men went through years in the Amazon wilderness looking for the lost city of El Dorado, the Golden Man. Still others looked for mammoths, the place where there is the Amazons and the mythical Kingdom of Prester John. These fantasies were unavoidable and in the fervor of the disclosure and investigation of the New World it didn't appear to be difficult to Ponce De Leons counterparts to discover such places. Juan Ponce de Leã ³n Juan Ponce de Leã ³n was conceived in Spain in 1474 however went to the New World no later than 1502. By 1504 he was notable as a talented warrior and had seen a lot of activity battling the locals of Hispaniola. He was given some prime land and before long turned into a rich grower and farmer. In the mean time, he was clandestinely investigating the close by island of Puerto Rico (at that point known as San Juan Bautista). He was conceded rights to settle the island and he did as such, however later lost the island to Diego Columbus (child of Christopher) following a lawful decision in Spain. Ponce de Leon and Florida Ponce de Leã ³n realized he needed to begin once again, and followed bits of gossip about a rich land toward the northwest of Puerto Rico. He took his first excursion to Florida in 1513. It was on that trip that the land was named Florida by Ponce himself, as a result of the blossoms there and the way that it was close to Easter time when he and his shipmates initially observed it. Ponce de Leã ³n was granted the rights to settle Florida. He returned in 1521 with a gathering of pioneers, however they were driven off by furious locals and Ponce de Leã ³n was injured by a harmed bolt. He kicked the bucket presently. Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth Any records that Ponce de Leã ³n kept of his two journeys have been since a long time ago lost to history. The best data concerning his excursions comes to us from the works of Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas, who was delegated Chief Historian of the Indies in 1596, decades after Ponce de Leons ventures. Herreras data was likely third-hand, best case scenario. He specifies the Fountain of Youth regarding Ponces first journey to Florida in 1513. Heres what Herrera needed to state about Ponce de Leã ³n and the Fountain of Youth: Juan Ponce upgraded his boats, and despite the fact that he couldn't help suspecting that he had buckled down he chosen to convey a boat to recognize the Isla de Bimini despite the fact that he would not like to, for he needed to do that without anyone else's help. He had a record of the abundance of this island (Bimini) and particularly that solitary Fountain that the Indians talked about, that diverted men from elderly people men into young men. He had not had the option to discover it due to the shores and flows and opposite climate. He sent, at that point, Juan Pã ©rez de Ortubia as commander of the boat and Antã ³n de Alaminos as pilot. They took two Indians to direct them over the shoals†¦The other boat (that had been left to look for Bimini and the Fountain) showed up and detailed that Bimini (no doubt Andros Island) had been found, however not the Fountain.  Ponces Search for the Fountain of Youth In the event that Herreras account is to be accepted, at that point Ponce saved a bunch of men to scan for the island of Bimini and to search for the famous wellspring while they were busy. Legends of a mysterious wellspring that could reestablish youth had been around for quite a long time and Ponce de Leã ³n had no uncertainty heard them. Maybe he heard gossipy tidbits about such a spot in Florida, which would not be amazing: there are many warm springs and several lakes and lakes there. Be that as it may, would he say he was really looking for it? Its improbable. Ponce de Leã ³n was a dedicated, viable man who expected to discover his fortune in Florida, however not by discovering some mysterious spring. On no event did Ponce de Leon by and by set off through the marshes and woods of Florida intentionally looking for the Fountain of Youth. All things considered, the thought of a Spanish voyager and conquistador looking for an incredible wellspring caught the open creative mind, and the name Ponce de Leon will everlastingly be attached to the Fountain of Youth and Florida. Right up 'til the present time, Florida spas, underground aquifers and even plastic specialists partner themselves with the Fountain of Youth. Source Fuson, Robert H. Juan Ponce de Leon and the Spanish Discovery of Puerto Rico and Florida Blacksburg: McDonald and Woodward, 2000.