In 1540, he journeyed to Venezuela to join an expedition by Governor Georg von Speyer.
Finding Speyer dead on his arrival, he joined the new governor, Philipp von Hutten, in exploring Venezuela.
[1] The Welsers' claim to Venezuela was disputed by various Spanish figures, and Juan de Carvajal falsified papers to install himself as governor of the colony.
After exploring the country to find El Dorado, the Welser party returned to their capital Neu-Augsburg in April 1546 and found it under Spanish control.
[1] That caused von Hutten and Welser VI to be captured by Carvajal as the Germans were fleeing to the port at Coro, being held in chains for some time, and to be beheaded on Good Friday that year.