Solis, JUAN DIAZ DE,

Solis, JUAN DIAZ DE, Spanish navigator, was born at Lebrija, between Cadiz and Seville, near the middle of the 15th century. He was sailing along with Pinzon when the latter discovered (1499) the mouth of the Amazon. In 1515 he himself was sent out, in command of three ships, to find a sea-passage through the American continent that should lead to the East Indies. This led to his discovery of the Paraná (i.e. the Rio de la Plata). But he suffered himself to be drawn into an ambuscade by the warlike Charras, who dwelt on its banks, and was killed by them (1516).