Answer:
1. Discovered the Mississippi and explored southeastern U.S. --- Hernando de Soto
2. Southwestern portion of North America --- Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
3. Claimed Florida for Spain --- Juan Ponce de Leon
Explanation:
1- Hernando de Soto was a Spanish foreman, conqueror and explorer who traveled to Spanish America and participated in 1522 in the Gil Gonzalez de Avila expedition that discovered the coast of Nicaragua. He was governor of the island of Cuba between 1538 and 1539, year in which part to the conquest of Florida.
2- Francisco Vazquez de Coronado y Lujan was a Spanish conqueror. He traveled through New Mexico and other parts of the current United States between 1540 and 1542. He arrived at the Viceroyalty of New Spain accompanying the first viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza.
3- Juan Ponce de Leon y Figueroa was a Spanish explorer and conqueror, first ruler of Puerto Rico and discoverer of Florida.
In popular culture, his discovery trip to Florida is associated with the search for the fountain of eternal youth, however there is no historical data to support that version, which was probably a myth.
