Tejano History

Renteria, Pedro De

Tejanos |

       RENTERÍA, PEDRO DE (?–?). One of the two Spanish voyages that touched the Texas coast during explorations preliminary to the 1559 expedition of Tristán de Luna y Arellano to Florida was captained by Pedro de Rentería. With Gonzalo Gayón as chief pilot, Rentería's single ship departed from San Juan de Ulúa at Veracruz. It proceeded first to Havana and thence sailed counterclockwise around the Gulf of Mexico. It discovered “the port of Polonza [Pensacola Bay],” the “coast of Apalache,” Mobile Bay, and the “Costa de Médanos.” The last name refers to Padre Island, named Médanos de Madalena by salvagers of the three Spanish ships wrecked there in 1554. 

 

Full article on the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online

   Courtesy of the Texas State Historical Association.