De Soto, Fernando

(1496?-1512), a Spanish noble, came to America. in 1519 in the service of Pedrarias Davila, and accompanied Pizarro in the conquest of Peru. In April, 1538, he set out from Spain with 600 men, commi ioned to undertake the conquest of Florida, reputed to be a land of great wealth. His well-appointed expedition landed in Tampa Bay in May, 1539. During the next three years he wandered over large parts of what are now Alabama and Mi i ippi. In the spring of 1541 he discovered the Mi i ippi River. Cro ing it, he penetrated as far westward as to the highlands of the White River. Returning, he died on the banks of the Mi i ippi in the spring of 1542. Some of his followers escaped to Mexico.