Pedro Menéndez de Avilés was a Spanish conquistador and governor of Florida. Born in Spain in 1519, he gained experience as a soldier and sailor before being appointed to lead the expedition that founded St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565. Menéndez’s primary goal was to establish a Spanish presence in the New World and to counter the French Huguenot colony at Fort Caroline.

Upon arriving in Florida, Menéndez and his forces attacked the French colony, resulting in a massacre of the Huguenots. He then focused on building St. Augustine, which became the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States. Menéndez governed Florida for the remainder of his life, overseeing its development and defense against various threats, including attacks from Native American tribes and other European powers.

Menéndez is remembered as a controversial figure. While he is credited with founding St. Augustine and establishing Spain’s claim to Florida, his actions against the Huguenots and his involvement in conflicts with Native American tribes have been criticized. Nevertheless, his legacy as a pioneer of European colonization in North America remains significant.