(1475–1519). The first European to look upon the Pacific Ocean from the shores of the New World was Vasco Núñez de Balboa. The Spanish adventurer and explorer sailed for America in 1500 and settled in Santo Domingo. There his unsuccessful attempts at farming led him into debt. In 1510, hoping to escape his creditors, he stowed away on a ship bound for the new colony of San Sebastian on the mainland of South America. When they arrived at San Sebastian they discovered that its founder had fled and abandoned the survivors of the colony. Balboa persuaded his superiors to transfer the colony to Darien (now the Isthmus of Panama) and gained command of the expedition. He then learned of a great ocean beyond the mountains and of the gold to be found there. He sent word to Spain that he needed reinforcements to explore the area. In Spain an expedition was organized, but Balboa was not given command. The king instead sent Pedre Arias Dávila as commander and as governor of Darien. Meanwhile Balboa, without waiting for reinforcements, had set out across the isthmus. It took 24 days for his party of 190 Spaniards and 1,000 natives to cross 45 miles of dense jungle. On Sept. 29, 1513, Balboa reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean, which he called the South Sea, and took possession of the ocean and all lands washed by it in the name of the Spanish monarch. When Balboa returned to Darien conflict arose immediately between him and the new governor. Balboa received grudging permission to explore the South Sea but was then summoned home and arrested on the false charge of instigating a rebellion. He was found guilty and was beheaded in January 1519. |