Milestones in the colonization of La Florida
1513 - 1763
First Spanish Period
Juan Ponce de León sails with three ships in search of Bimini. On April 2, he lands on an “island” northwest of the Bahamas. He names it “La Florida,” in honor of the Pascua Florida, or Easter.
1521
Juan Ponce de León returns to Florida with two ships, probably to the Charlotte Harbor area. Badly-wounded in a battle with Calusa warriors, Ponce returns to Cuba, where he dies from his wound.
1528
Pánfilo de Narváez sails for Florida. Four survivors, including Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, and a Moor named Estevanico remain among the Indian tribes of the south and west for the next eight years.
1539
Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay on May 25. Soto dies in 1542. Remaining survivors arrive in Mexico in September 1543.
1559
Tristán de Luna y Arellano establishes a colony at Pensacola.
1562
A French Huguenot (Protestant) expedition of three ships commanded by Jean Ribault explores the coast of Florida, founding a settlement named Charlesfort on Parris Island, South Carolina.
1565
On March 15, King Philip II of Spain appoints Pedro Menéndez de Avilés Governor and Adelantado of Florida, contracting him to establish three permanent settlements in Florida.
1586
English privateer Francis Drake sacks and burns St. Augustine.
1607
English settle Jamestown.
1612
Franciscan friar Francisco Pareja publishes Catecismo en lengua castellana y timucua (Catechism in Spanish and Timucuan), the first Indian-language publication in any region of what would become the United States of America.
1622
Hurricane sinks eight to ten Spanish ships sailing for Spain, including the galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which sank off the Florida Keys.
1672
Construction begins on Castillo de San Marcos, Spain’s great stone fortress at St. Augustine. Built of coquina stone, mined from local quarries on Anastasia Island, FL. Castillo de San Marcos takes more than thirty years to complete.
1763 - 1784
British Period
Florida is transferred to British rule. The region is divided into two provinces, East Florida and West Florida.
1784 - 1821
Second Spanish Period
Florida transfers to British rule. On September 22, 1819, the Adams-Onís Treaty confirms Florida as a US territory. Two years later, in 1821, the formal transfer takes place.
1845
Florida is admitted to the Union, becoming the 27th US State.