Francisco Vásquez de Coronado Biography

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado was a Spanish conquistador who became one of the first Europeans to discover the Grand Canyon and sight many other important landmarks. As an explorer he led extensive expeditions to faraway lands primarily in the hope of finding the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. Even though he could never find the precious treasures he sought, he did discover several important physical landmarks in the American Southwest while searching for the legendary cities of gold. Born into a wealthy aristocratic family in Salamanca, Spain, he received a comfortable upbringing. As a young man he travelled to New Spain where he found the support of Antonio de Mendoza, the viceroy of Mexico. He soon landed a government position and married the daughter of a prominent and influential man. Eventually he settled into a life marked by power and prosperity when he heard rumors of a faraway land abundant in gold and riches located to the north of Mexico. He set out on an expedition to seek out these lands himself. Over the course of his extensive explorations, members of his party became the first Europeans to sight the Grand Canyon. They continued their search for the Seven Cities of Gold through what is now Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. However, the expedition could not find the riches they sought and returned home disappointed