Spanish seaman, explorer and discoverer. He was born in Lebrija, Spain. In 1508 he was summoned by King Fernando II and departed for Central America discovering and exploring the coasts of Nicaragua, Honduras and Yucatan peninsula. After Vespucci's death in 1512 he became the pilot-major of the "Casa de Contratación", an institution created for administrating and controlling the traffic and commerce between Spain and America. In October 1515 he sailed off in command of three ships and 60 crewmen in order to find a path between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He explored the coasts of Brazil and on continuing southward he discovered the River Plate which he called "Mar Dulce" (Sweet Sea) because the water was not salty and only one coast could be seen. Sailing up river he first landed in the northern part of this coast in what today is Uruguay, and then reached Martín García island, naming it after the expedition's supplies dispenser, who died shortly before landing and was interred there on February 1516. On disembarking again with seven other men to deal with the indians in what today is the Department of Colonia in Uruguay, Solís and his men were tricked and killed, save Francisco del Puerto, the 14 year old cabin boy who was captured. The rest of the men, who had remained aboard, did not dare recover him and set sails back to Spain.
Spanish seaman, explorer and discoverer. He was born in Lebrija, Spain. In 1508 he was summoned by King Fernando II and departed for Central America discovering and exploring the coasts of Nicaragua, Honduras and Yucatan peninsula. After Vespucci's death in 1512 he became the pilot-major of the "Casa de Contratación", an institution created for administrating and controlling the traffic and commerce between Spain and America. In October 1515 he sailed off in command of three ships and 60 crewmen in order to find a path between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He explored the coasts of Brazil and on continuing southward he discovered the River Plate which he called "Mar Dulce" (Sweet Sea) because the water was not salty and only one coast could be seen. Sailing up river he first landed in the northern part of this coast in what today is Uruguay, and then reached Martín García island, naming it after the expedition's supplies dispenser, who died shortly before landing and was interred there on February 1516. On disembarking again with seven other men to deal with the indians in what today is the Department of Colonia in Uruguay, Solís and his men were tricked and killed, save Francisco del Puerto, the 14 year old cabin boy who was captured. The rest of the men, who had remained aboard, did not dare recover him and set sails back to Spain.
Bio by: Nes Pagani
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