Pedro Menendez de Aviles

About

Spanish explorer and sea captain who founded St. Augustine, the first successful Spanish settlement in Florida, in 1565. When he set out he was under the reign of Phillip II of Spain.

Before Fame

He began his career as a sailor with orders from King Philip II of Spain.

Trivia

He served as the first Governor of Florida.

Family Life

He initially set out for Florida to try to locate his son, Juan, who had been involved in a shipwreck in the area in 1561.

Associated With

He and Hernando DeSoto were both famous Spanish explorers who traveled to the New World.