Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Despite initially currying favor with the native Taíno Indians, the Spaniard's rela-
tionship with his new neighbors quickly deteriorated. In 1512, after much legal
wrangling, the explorer was removed from his governor's post in favor of Columbus'
son, Diego, before being given title to explore the lands north of Cuba.
De León, after circumnavigating the Bahamas, elected to divert northwest and, in
the process, inadvertently 'discovered' Florida.
After several forays along Florida's coast (which de León thought was an island),
the explorer returned to Puerto Rico via Cuba and Guadalupe in 1515 and stayed
there for the next six years. In 1521 de León organized another trip to Florida with
two ships and 200 people. This time they landed on the west coast of Florida near the
Caloosahatchee River but were quickly beaten back by Calusa Indians. Wounded in
the thigh by a poisoned arrow, de León was shipped back to Havana where he died in
July 1521. His remains were returned to Puerto Rico where they are interred in the
Catedral de San Juan.
