Juan Díaz de Solís

Juan Díaz de Solís was a Spanish navigator and explorer born about 1470 at Lebrija (Seville) and died in South America in 1516. After some explorations in Central America in 1506 and in Brazil in 1508, he succeeded Amerigo Vespucci as pilot-major upon the latter's death in 1512. Two years after appointment to this office, Díaz de Solís prepared an expedition to explore the southern part of the new continent. His ships sailed from Lepe on 8 Oct., 1515, following the eastern coast as far as the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. He went up that river for some distance, and, wishing to take possession of the country in the name of the Crown, landed on the eastern bank of the river somewhere near the junction of the Uruguay and Paraná Rivers with two officers and seven men. This region was inhabited by many tribes. The little party had not proceeded far when they were ambushed. Díaz de Solís and most of his folIowers were killed, and the expedition ended.