DIAZ DE SOLIS, Juan, Spanish navigator, born in Lebrija, Spain, in 1471; died in South America in 1516(or, according to Barcia and Sala, in 1515). In 1506 he sailed from Cadiz in command of a carvel, together with Vicente Yafiez Pinzon, and, following the course taken by Columbus from the Island of Guanajos to discover new countries on the American continent, they entered the Gulf of Mexico, discovered the coast of Yucatan and the bay of Campeachy, which they called Gulf of the Nativity, and saw the mountain range of Curia. In 1507 they returned to Spain, and Diaz was appointed by the king, together with Amerigo Vespucci and Collado, member of a council of pilots, presided over by the king himself, at which it was resolved to continue the exploration of the Atlantic Coast of South America, and Diaz was appointed commander, with the title of royal pilot. He left Seville in 1508 with two carvefs, one commanded by Yanez Pinzon, and from the Cape Verde islands they made land at Cape St. Augustine and sailed southward as far as 40° S., recognizing the coast and landing at several points, taking possession in the name of the king of Spain, and erecting crosses (1509). Having quarreled with Pinzon, he returned the same year to Spain. The king considered Diaz guilty, and sent him to prison. But afterward his innocence was recognized, he was awarded 34,000 maravedis indemnity, and several distinctions, and at the death of Vespucci received the title of chief pilot of the kingdom. He was considered the most expert mariner of that time. In 1515 he was again sent on an expedition to complete the discovery and take possession of South America, and on 8 October of that year sailed from Lepe, Spain, with two ships. In this voyage he discovered many new points of the coast, entered Rio de Janeiro, and, sailing southward, discovered an Island which he called La Plata" then taking a southwest course, he discovered land, and in 27° S. a bay, which he called Bahia de los Perdidos, passed Cape Corrientes, and visited the Island of San Sebastian, which he called Lobos. He entered the port of Nuestra SerSora de la Candelaria, 35° S., and again took possession of the country in the name of the king of Spain. Afterward he anchored in a broad River, which, believing it to be an arm of the ocean, he called "Sweet Sea," but, finding out that it was a River, called it Solis, which today is the River Plate. With one of his ships he ascended the River, and, seeing Indians on the shore, landed with a few sailors, desiring to capture some of the inhabitants and carry them to Spain as a present to the king. But he fell into an ambuscade, and, together with the whole boat crew, was killed in sight of his ship, roasted, and eaten. Diaz Solis was the first who by order of the king designed a marine chart of the coast of America (1506), and afterward examined all the charts designed by other mariners.