Hernando de Soto

He married Isabel de Bobadilla, the daughter of his mentor Pedro Arias Davila, in 1537.

He had embarked on an expedition to North America in 1538. He fell ill while staying in the village of Guachoya over the course of his explorations, and died on May 21, 1542. It is believed that his body was buried in the Mississippi River.

Many parks, towns, counties, and institutions have been named after Hernando de Soto including DeSoto County (Florida), DeSoto State Park (Alabama), DeSoto Caverns (Alabama), and DeSoto Falls (Lumpkin County, Georgia).

Hernando de Soto was born around 1500 in Jerez de los Caballeros, Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. His parents were poor in spite of belonging to nobility.

He found a generous patron named Pedro Arias Davila who funded de Soto's education at the University of Salamanca. His parents wanted him to become a lawyer but young Hernando was more interested in exploring the world.

Hernando de Soto became a skilled horseman while still a teenager. Davila, the governor of Darién, invited de Soto to join him on his 1514 expedition to the West Indies as the captain of a cavalry exploration troop.

He proved to be a good explorer as well as a trader. He became engaged in slave trade while in Panama and soon acquired a small fortune. Over the years he formed successful partnerships with Hernán Ponce de León and Francisco Campañón and established himself as a prosperous businessman by 1520.

During the late 1520s, reports of gold located south of Darién on the Pacific coast were making the rounds. He lent two ships to explorer Francisco Pizarro who planned to investigate the reports. Pizarro in turn named de Soto his chief lieutenant for the expedition.

The conquest of Peru, led by Pizarro and de Soto began in 1532. Hernando de Soto, with his expertise as a horseman played an important role in the Spanish victory over the Incas at Cajamarca. They captured the Inca king Atahualpa who was later killed, and plundered the Inca’s properties.

Hernando de Soto received a hefty share from the plunder of the Inca’s wealth and returned to Spain in 1536. Back home he received much respect and adulation for his achievements. Considerably wealthy by now, he could have settled into a comfortable life, but he soon grew restless for more adventure.

Hernando de Soto is best remembered for leading the first European expedition deep into the interiors of what is today the United States. During the course of his exploration he discovered the Mississippi River and became the first documented European to cross it. Although he could not achieve his dream of finding gold and silver by way of this expedition, the expedition ultimately had numerous far-reaching consequences.