Thomas William Francis Gann was born on 13th May 1867 in Murrisk Abbey, Ireland, and he died on 24th February 1938 (aged 71 years) in London, UK. A doctor by profession but Thomas is best known for his exploration as an amateur archaeologist of the Mayan civilization ruins. He was stationed in British Honduras as […]
Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa was born in 1532 in Galicia, Spain, and he died in 1592 (aged 60 years) Lisbon, Portugal. A Spanish explorer, author, historian, mathematician, astronomer and scientist, Pedro Sarmiento started by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to Mexico. He lived there for two years before moving on to Peru where he lived
Dionisio Alcala Galiano was born on 8th October 1760 in Cabra, Spain, and he died on 21st October 1805 (aged 45 years) in Cape Trafalgar, Spain. A cartographer, naval officer and explorer, Dionisio led an expedition that mapped the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia. He was also the first European
Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs was born on 11th February 1908 in Freshwater, United Kingdom, and he died on 11th November 1999 (aged 91 years) in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Sir Vivian was a geologist and explorer who made his name by completing the first crossing of Antarctica over the land in 1958. They completed this feat
Elizabeth Jane Cochran, well known as Nellie Bly, was born on 5th May 1864 in Cochran’s Mills, Pennsylvania, United States, and she died of pneumonia on 22nd January 1922 (aged 57 years) in New York City. Nellie was an American journalist who set the world record for the fastest trip around the world. Inspired by
Louis Claude de Freycinet was born on 7th August 1779 in Drome, France, and he died on 18th August 1841 (aged 62 years) in France. Louis was a French navigator, cartographer and explorer who circumnavigated the Earth and he is attributed with making the first map to show the full outline of Australia. He had
Xu Fu was born in 255 BC, in Qi, ancient China. Xu Fu was a court sorcerer and was sent on two voyages to look for the Elixir of Life by Qin Shi Huang, the ruler of Qin. Xu travelled for many years with a fleet of 60 ships, 5000 crew members and various artisans
John Charles Fremont was born on 21st January 1813 in Savannah, Georgia, United States, and he died on 13th July 1890 (aged 77 years) in New York. A politician who undertook expeditions to the American West and was called the ‘Path Finder’, John mapped the second half of the Oregon Trail. The third expedition led
Simon Fraser II was born on 20th May 1776 in Hoosick, Province of New York, British America, and he died on 18th August 1862 (aged 86 years) in Saint. Andrews West, Canada. Simon was an explorer who has explored and chartered most of the British Columbia region of Canada. He is also credited with establishing
Sir John Franklin was born on 16th April 1786 in Spilsby, United Kingdom, and he died on 11th June 1847 (aged 61 years) in King William Island, Canada. Franklin entered the Royal Navy at the age of 14, accompanied Matthew Flinders on his exploratory voyage to Australia, and served in the Battles of Trafalgar and
Peter Forsskal was born on 11th January 1732 in Helsinki, Finland, and he died on 11th July 1763 (aged 31 years) in Yemen. A naturalist and an orientalist, Peter studied theology and was a disciple of Linnaeus, who was a renowned botanist. Peter published a political paper on Civil Liberty and advocated the complete freedom
Captain Mattew Flinders was born on 16th March 1774 in Donington, United Kingdom, and he died on 19th July 1814 (aged 40 years) in London, England. Mattew was an English cartographer and navigator who was the leader of the expedition which took the first circumnavigation of Australia and recognized it as a continent. Mattew undertook
Salvador Fidalgo was born on 6th August 1756 in Spain and he died on 27th September 1803 (aged 47 years) in Tacubaya, Mexico City, Mexico. Salvador was a Spanish explorer who commanded an expedition for Spain to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest during the 18th century. He was a member of the team of cartographers
Lieutenant Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett was born on 18th August 1867 in Torquay, United Kingdom, and he died on 29th May 1925 (aged 58 years) in Mato Grosso, Brazil. An artillery officer, archaeologist and explorer, Percy is best known for exploring South America when he was trying to look for the lost city of El
Ahmad ibn Fadlan was born in 877 AD in Baghdad, Iraq, and he died in 960 AD (aged 83 years). Ahmad was an Arab traveller known for his writing about his travels as an Embassy member of Baghdad to the King of Volga Bulgars, now in Russia. He called his book ‘Risala’. He provided very