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Juan Ponce de Leon (1460- 1521)


 * Birthplace:** Santervas, Spain

**Family:**

 * Wife- Leonora Ponce de Leon
 * Children- Luis, Juana, Maria, and Isabell

**Early Life:**

 * Descended from the Spanish Royal Family
 * At a young age, he served as page to Pedro Nunuz de Guzman in the Spanish Court
 * In 1493, he sailed with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World
 * In 1506 he discovered a nearby island with the name of Borinquen.
 * While on the island Juan Ponce De Leon found large deposits of gold soon after this discovery he had left.
 * In 1508 after he had returned the king of spain ordered him to explore and colonize the island.
 * The island was named puerto Rico.
 * Juan Ponce De Leon served as island govenor for two years until replaced by Columbus' son.