Which explorer's expedition was aimed at finding a route to separate Florida from Spain?

The exploration led by Rene-Robert de La Salle was primarily focused on establishing a French presence in North America and finding a route to the Gulf of Mexico. His expeditions aimed at navigating the Mississippi River in order to secure a trade route that would connect the Great Lakes to the Gulf and promote trade, thereby creating a new French territory. One of the longer-term ambitions of La Salle was to find a way to separate Spanish territories, including Florida, from their influence in the region, which aligns with the specific inquiry about his expedition's aims.

The other explorers listed had different objectives. For instance, Alonso Alvarez de Pineda is known for mapping the Texas coastline rather than attempting to separate territories. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's explorations were centered around survival and encounters with native tribes after a shipwreck, rather than geopolitical ambitions. Francisco de Garay’s expeditions were more focused on exploring and settling new lands under Spanish crown authority, rather than the specific aim of dividing Florida from Spain. Thus, La Salle's mission aligns most closely with the intention of finding a route that would separate Florida from Spanish control.