Hernando De Soto Hernando De Soto was born in the 1500's in Jerez De Los Caballeros, Spain. He was a Spainard explorer and a conquistador. He was born into a noble but also born in a poor family. A generous patron funded his education to go to the Unniversity of Salamanco. His family wanted him to become a lawyer but he wanted to explore. De Soto proved his worth of exploration on his first expedition in 1514. It was an expedition to the west Indies. De Soto became a very wealthy man when when he had returned to Spain. De Soto went on Francisco P.'s expedition. He helped him conquer Peru. In 1539, and set out on a conquest to North America where he had discovered the Mississippi river. In 1542 on May 21, De Soto died of a fever
