Pedro Menéndez de Avilés is a Spanish explorer and conquistador who is best known for founding the city of St. Augustine, Florida in 1565. He was born in 1519 in the province of Asturias, Spain, and was the son of a wealthy merchant. He began his career as a sailor in the Spanish navy, and eventually rose to the rank of captain.
In 1544, Menéndez was appointed by King Charles V to lead an expedition to the New World. He sailed to the Caribbean and explored the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola. He then sailed to the coast of Florida, where he encountered the French Huguenots, who had established a settlement at Fort Caroline. Menéndez was determined to drive the French out of the area and claim the land for Spain. He attacked the fort and defeated the French, killing most of the settlers.
Menéndez then established a settlement of his own at the site of the former French fort. He named the settlement St. Augustine, after the saint of the same name. He also established a mission to convert the local Native Americans to Christianity. Menéndez was successful in his mission, and St. Augustine became the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States.
Menéndez continued to explore the area, and in 1567 he founded the city of Santa Elena on the coast of South Carolina. He also explored the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, and in 1568 he founded the city of San Agustín de la Florida.
Menéndez was a successful explorer and colonizer, and he was appointed governor of Florida in 1573. He served in this position until his death in 1574. During his tenure, he established a number of settlements in the area, including Pensacola and Tampa. He also established a system of government and laws for the region.
Menéndez was an important figure in the history of the New World. He was a successful explorer and colonizer, and he established the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States. He also established a system of government and laws for the region, which laid the foundation for the development of the area. His legacy lives on in the city of St. Augustine, which is still a thriving community today.