Ponce de Le ‧ ón, Juan /ˌpɒns də ˈliːən $ ˌpɑːns-, wɑːn $ hwɑːn/ BrE AmE
(1460–1521) a Spanish ↑ explorer who took control of Puerto Rico for Spain in 1508 and discovered ↑ Florida in 1513, when he was searching for the ↑ Fountain of Youth , a flow of water coming from the ground which was supposed to make anyone who drank it stay young for ever