Which Spanish explorer founded the first permanent European settlement in Florida?

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine in 1565, the first permanent European settlement in Florida. Acting under orders from King Philip II of Spain, Menéndez established the settlement as San Agustín on Florida’s northeast coast.

The Spanish fleet sighted land on August 28, the feast day of Saint Augustine, and Menéndez formally landed and began fortifying the settlement in September. Its location helped Spain protect shipping routes and challenge French attempts to establish a foothold in Florida. St. Augustine was built near the Timucua village of Seloy.

St. Augustine is recognized as the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States. Juan Ponce de León had earlier claimed Florida for Spain, but he did not found a permanent settlement there. Hernando de Soto explored the Southeast, while Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón founded the short-lived colony of San Miguel de Gualdape farther north.