Hernando de Soto Profession: Spanish Explorer and Conquistador Nationality: Spanish Why Famous: Led the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, and the first documented to have crossed the Mississippi River. Died: May 21, 1542 Cause of Death: Fever Historical Events in the Life of Hernando de Soto 1539-05-30 Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto discovers Florida 1539-06-03 Hernando De Soto claims Florida for Spain 1540-06-03 Hernando de Soto crosses Appalachian Mountain, 1st European to do so 1541-03-18 Hernando de Soto observes 1st recorded flood in America (Mississippi River) 1541-05-08 Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto discovers the Mississippi River Share On Facebook Share On Twitter Famous Conquistadors Francisco Pizarro Hernán Cortés Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo Famous Explorers Alfred Russel Wallace Bartolomeu Dias Hiram Bingham
Francisco Pizarro
Hernán Cortés
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Alfred Russel Wallace
Bartolomeu Dias
Hiram Bingham