Spanish explorer, born in Cuenca. Ojeda was one of the numerous adventurers who took part in the Spanish exploring expeditions which followed Columbus’s discovery of America. He was with Columbus on the second voyage, and while in the interior of Hispaniola discovered gold-mines. He gave Venezuela its name, in 1499, while on an independent voyage. He was consecutively in command of expeditions to Venezuela, the Gulf of Darien, and San Sebastian. He was regarded as one of the greatest adventurers of his time, and many Spaniards, afterward prominent in American history, served under his banner. Among them were Cortes, Pizarro and Amerigo Vespucci. He suffered hardships, was imprisoned, and died in great poverty in Santo Domingo, West Indies, in 1515.
