Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who is best known for being the first European to have seen and crossed the Isthmus of Panama. He is also credited with the discovery of the Pacific Ocean. Born in Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain in 1475, Balboa was the son of a noble family. He was educated in the court of the Duke of Medina Sidonia and was a page in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella.
In 1501, Balboa joined an expedition to the New World, led by Rodrigo de Bastidas. The expedition sailed from Spain to Hispaniola, where they explored the coast of Central America. Balboa then joined a second expedition, led by Alonso de Ojeda, which explored the coast of South America. During this expedition, Balboa was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
In 1510, Balboa was appointed governor of the province of Darién, in what is now Panama. He quickly set about exploring the region, and in 1513, he led an expedition across the Isthmus of Panama. This expedition was the first European crossing of the Isthmus, and it was during this journey that Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
Upon his return to Darién, Balboa founded the city of Santa María la Antigua del Darién, which became the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. He also established a trading post in the area, which allowed the Spanish to trade with the local indigenous people.
In 1519, Balboa was arrested and charged with treason by the Spanish Crown. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was executed by decapitation in January 1519.
Balboa's legacy lives on in the form of the many monuments and statues that have been erected in his honor. He is remembered as a brave explorer and conqueror who helped to open up the New World to European exploration and colonization. His discovery of the Pacific Ocean was a major milestone in the history of exploration, and his legacy will continue to be remembered for generations to come.