Juan de la Cosa
| Juan de la Cosa | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | Between 1450 and 1460 Santoña, Cantabria, Spain |
| Died | 28 February 1510 Turbaco, Colombia |
| Residence | El Puerto de Santa María |
| Nationality | Castilian |
| Other names | Juan the Biscayan |
| Occupation | Navigator and cartographer |
| Notable work | Map of Juan de la Cosa |
Juan de la Cosa or sometimes Juan the Biscayan (c. 1450 – 28 February 1510) was a Spanish navigator and cartographer, known for designing the earliest European world map that incorporated the territories of the Americas that were discovered in the 15th century. De la Cosa played an important role in the first and second voyage of Christopher Columbus to the West Indies, since he was the owner and captain of the Santa María.
In 1499, he served as the chief pilot in the expedition of Alonso de Ojeda to the coasts of South America. Upon his return to Andalusia, he drew his famous mappa mundi ("world map") and soon returned to the Indies, this time with Rodrigo de Bastidas. In the following years, De la Cosa alternated trips to America under its own command with special duties from the Crown, including an assignment as a spy in Lisbon and participation in the board of pilots held in Burgos in 1508. In 1509, he began what would be his last expedition, again with Ojeda, to take possession of the coasts of modern Colombia.
De la Cosa died in an armed confrontation with indigenous people before he could get possession of Urabá.
No one knows exactly where Juan de la Cosa was born, but the most accepted hypothesis is that it was in Santoña (Cantabria), because there are documents showing that he was a resident there and his wife and daughter lived in that city. Some 16th-century chroniclers called him "the Biscayan," leading to confusion with another sailor called "Juan Vizcaino." However, today they are known to be different people.
His date of birth is also unknown, but it is estimated between 1450 and 1460, nor is any information available from his childhood or adolescence. It is assumed that the young man took part in sailing voyages around the Bay of Biscay and then towards the Canary Islands and West Africa.
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