Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer and conquistador born in 1460. He is best known for his expedition to Florida in 1513, where he sought the legendary Fountain of Youth, a mythical spring believed to restore youth. Ponce de León was the first European to set foot on the U.S. mainland. Before his journey to Florida, Ponce de León served as a soldier in the Spanish campaigns in Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. He became the first governor of Puerto Rico and played a significant role in its early colonization. His explorations contributed to the European understanding of the Caribbean and southeastern North America.