Date:

1589

Title:

St. Augustine

Cartographer:

Boazio, Giovanni Baptista (1585-1606)

Summary:

This view of the first permanent European (by Spain) settlement in what is now the U.S. was drawn by Italian artist Giovanni Baptista Boazio who accompanied Francis Drake on his voyage to the Caribbean area during which he attacked five of Spain's main ports. A view of each was drawn by Boazio and published in "A Summarie and true discourse of Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage" by Biggs and Croftes in London in 1588-89.

After Piedro Menendez d'Avila raided the French at Ft. Caroline on the River May (St. Johns River), the surviving settlers were rescued from Matanza and taken to England. Among these was Jacques LeMoyne (see his map). Pedro Menendez established the Spanish Stronghold at St. Augustine. This solidified the Spanish claim to the peninsula of Florida and adjacent territories extending west along the Gulf of Mexico. Later, stronger forts were built and still stand in the city of St. Augustine. This was the main defense against English encroachments, claims and attempted conquests of Florida during the 1600s and early 1700s.

The original of the first image of St. Augustine is in the Library of Congress where it was donated by Jay and Jean Kislak.


Note:

Image scanned from an original map in a private collection.

Reference: Burden (1996), Lowery (1912).

Coverage Time:

1500s