Hernando de Soto

Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador born in 1496. He is best known for his expedition through the southeastern United States in the 1530s, during which he became one of the first Europeans to discover the Mississippi River. De Soto aimed to find gold and establish Spanish territories but faced resistance from Native American tribes. His journey was marked by violence and the impact of European diseases on indigenous populations. De Soto died in 1542, and his explorations significantly contributed to European knowledge of North America and its geographic landscape.