Information about Juan de Fuca is sketchy at best and much of it contradicts itself.  That said, here are 10 facts (or supposed facts) about Juan de Fuca, namesake of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

1. Juan de Fuca was born in Cephalonia in the Ionian Sea of Greece in 1536.

2. In 1587 while sailing from the Phillippines and China on the Santa Anna, de Fuca’s ship was overtaken by an English Captain Candish who stole all of his cargo.  Juan de Fuca made many attempts to be reimbursed by the English government for this loss but was not successful.

3.  There is a tetonic plate named for Juan de Fuca.  It is located underneath the northerly portion of the North American plate between the Medicino Fault Zone and the Pacific Plate.

4. Juan de Fuca sailed into the body of water that is named for him in 1592.

5. According to his own words, Juan de Fuca served the King of Spain for 40 years as a mariner and pilot.  He then traveled to Mexico and worked for the Viceroy of Mexico.

6. Juan de Fuca is also known by the name Apostolos Valerianos.

7. The Viceroy of Mexico hired Juan de Fuca to take an expedition to locate the Strait of Anian, a passage that Sir Francis Drake described as a possibility for sailing from Mexico to Europe.

8.  Juan de Fuca’s first voyage searching for the Strait of Anian ended in Mutiny.  Durin his second attempt to find the Strait of Anian, Juan de Fuca discovered
the body of water between the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island.

9.  Juan de Fuca was promised great rewards for this discovery from the
King of Spain.  After he received no reward, Juan de Fuca (on the advice of the Viceroy of Mexico) traveled to
Spain.  He was treated kindly and congratulated but received no reward.

10. Being disgusted with the King of Spain, Juan de Fuca returned to Cephalonia.  It is believed that Juan de Fuca died in 1602.