Spanish Florida/Timelines

Timeline for Spanish Florida

A sequence of significant events in the history of Florida under Spain.

1513: Juan Ponce de Leon names Florida and claims it for Spain.

1521: Ponce de Leon attempts to colonize southwest coast of Florida peninsula, is driven off and mortally wounded by Calusas.

1528: Pánfilo de Narváez expedition, from Tampa Bay to Apalachee Bay.

1539-1542: Hernando de Soto expedition, from Tampa Bay to the Appalachian Mountains and then across the Mississippi River.

1559: Tristán de Luna y Arellano establishes Ochuse on Pensacola Bay, mounts expeditions as far inland as Tennessee; Ochuse abandoned in 1561.

1562: French establish Charlesfort on what is now Parris Island, South Carolina; garrison moves to Fort Caroline in 1564.

1564: French establish Fort Caroline near present day Jacksonville, Florida.

1565: Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founds St. Augustine; destroys Fort Caroline.

1666:

Santa Elena founded on what is now Parris Island, South Carolina; abandoned in 1587.

Juan Pardo leads two expeditions (1566-7 and 1567-8) from Santa Elena as far as eastern Tennessee, establishes six temporary forts in interior.

1696: Second foundation of Pensacola.

1763: Florida transferred from Spain to Britain: divided into East Florida and West Florida.

1784: Floridas returned to Spanish rule.

1810-1816: Part of West Florida occupied and annexed by United States; 'Patriot Army' of U.S. volunteers temporarily seizes Fernandina.

1817-1818: First Seminole War; United States invades West Florida.

1821: Floridas transferred from Spain to the United States.