Juan Ponce de Leon II
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Juan Ponce de Leon II born in Puerto Rico in the early part of the 16th century, was the first Puerto Rican to assume the temporary governorship of Puerto Rico.
He was the son of Garcia "Gracie" Troche and Juana Ponce de Leon. The Spanish Conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon was Juana's father and, consequently, Juan Ponce de Leon II's maternal grandfather.
In 1579, Juan Ponce de Leon II became the first native Puerto Rican to assume, temporarily, the governorship of Puerto Rico.
In 1580, at the request of King Phillip II of Spain, Governor Juan Lopez Melgarejo asked Juan Ponce de Leon II to write a general description of the West Indies with emphasis on the part corresponding to Puerto Rico. He did this with the collaboration of his fellow Puerto Rican Antonio de Santa Clara.
Ponce de Leon II's written work, known as "Melgarejo's Memoirs" or "Memorias de Melgarejo", is one of Puerto Rico's most important historical documents.
Juan Ponce de Leon II tried in vain to conquer the island of Trinidad. He lost one of his sons in the failed attempt. Later in life, after he bacame a widower, Ponce de Leon II embraced and lived a religious life.
Juan Ponce de Leon II's remains are buried in the Church of San José, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has honored his memory by naming a high school in the city of Florida, Puerto Rico after him.
| Preceded by: Pedro Suaárez | Governor of Puerto Rico 1597 | Succeeded by: Antonio De Mosquero See also |