Florida was discovered by Juan Ponce de Leon

March 27, 1513, on Easter Sunday, after which the peninsula was named. He and his succe ors explored a large part of Florida in search of gold and “ the fountain of perpetual youth.” He was killed in a fight with the natives in 1521. In 1539 a force of 600 under Fernando De Soto landed at Tampa Bay and: moving to the N. and W., overcoming the natives by treachery and violence. pa ed beyond the present limits of ¥Vlorida. A settlement of French Huguenots was attempted in 1564, but two years later was exterminated by the Spanish, From this time the Spanish were in absolute control, and settlements were made at Pensacola and elsewhere along the coast. In 1687 the first large consignment of negro slaves was brought to Florida. In 1814 it was captured by the United States forces under Andrew Jackson. Then followed a long series of wars with the natives, the whole of Florida being ceded to the United States by Spain in 1819. In 1822 Florida was organized as a Territory of the United States. From 1835 to 1842 the Seminole Indians were in active hostility and on their final surrender they were removed to a_ special reservation. Florida was admitted to the Union as a State in 1845. At the outbreak of the Civil War the principal government posts were seized by the State forces.