Pedro Menendez de Aviles
by D Hackett
Title
Pedro Menendez de Aviles
Artist
D Hackett
Medium
Photograph - Digital
Description
Pedro Menendez de Avils by D Hackett
Pedro Menendez de Avils (15 February 1519, 7 September 1574) was a Spanish admiral and explorer, best remembered for founding St. Augustine, Florida in 1565. This was the first successful Spanish foothold in La Florida and remained the most significant city in the region for several hundred years. St. Augustine is now the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the Continental United States. Menendez subsequently became the first governor of Spanish Florida.
Menendez made his career as a sailor in the service of the king. His first plans for a voyage to Florida revolved around searching for his son, Juan, who had been shipwrecked there in 1561. However, following the founding of Fort Caroline in present-day Jacksonville by French Huguenots under Reno Goulaine de Laudonnire, he was commissioned to conquer the peninsula as Adelantado. He established St. Augustine in 1565, and later took over Fort Caroline and displaced the French. Firmly established as governor, Menendez turned his focus to exploring the area and establishing further fortifications. He returned to Spain in 1567 and was also appointed governor of Cuba. He made one further trip back to Florida. He died in 1574.
Uploaded
November 30th, 2015
Embed
Share
Comments
There are no comments for Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Click here to post the first comment.