Sahil

Abel Janszoon Tasman was born in 1603 in Lutjegast, Netherlands and he died on 10th October 1659 (aged 56 years) in Batavia, Dutch East Indies. Abel is best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 during which he discovered the islands of Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) and New Zealand. On his second voyage, […]

Diego Velazquez de Cuellar was born in 1465 in Cuellar, Spain, and he died in 12th June 1524 (aged 59 years) in Cuba. Diego was involved in the second voyage of Christopher Columbus to America. He also sailed to Cuba to conquer it with Hernan Cortes in 1511 and founded four settlements there including Santiago

Juan de Onate was born in 1550 in Zacatecas City, Mexico and he died on 3rd June 1626 (aged 76 years) in Seville, Spain. Juan de Onate established the colony of New Mexico for Spain. His request to conquer and govern New Mexico was approved in 1595 but his expedition started only three years later.

Bartolome de Las Casas was born in 1484 in Sevilla, Spain, and he died on 18th July 1566 (aged 82 years) in Madrid, Spain. A Spanish missionary, Bartolome travelled to the western hemisphere to take care of the lands that were given to his father by Christopher Columbus, moving to West Indies and working towards

Gonzalo Pizarro was born in 1510 in Trujillo, Spain, and he died on 10th April 1548 (aged 38 years) in Cuzco, Peru. Gonzalo travelled with his half brother Francisco Pizarro on his expedition to Peru and helped him take over the Incas and overthrow the Incan ruler for which he was rewarded by Spain with

Vasco Nunez de Balboa was born in 1475 in Spain and he died on 12th January 1519 (aged 44 years) in Acla, Panama. A Spanish Explorer and conquistador Vasco was the first European to have crossed the Isthmus of Panama to see the Pacific Ocean. He also established the town of Darien on the Isthmus

Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de La Salle was born on 22nd November 1643 in Rouen, Normandy, France, and he died on 19th March 1687 (aged 43 years) in Huntsville, Texas. Rene is known for leading an expedition to the Mississippi river and claiming the area for France. He named it

Sir Richard Francis Burton was born on 19th March 1821 in Torquay, Devon, England, and he died on 20th October 1890 (aged 69 years) in Trieste, Hungary. The first European to visit the Great Lakes of Africa, Richard and his companion were the first to reach Lake Tanganyika. He wrote a well-documented trip to the

Pedro de Alvarado was born in about 1485 in Badojoz, Spain, and he died on 4th July 1541 (aged 56 years) in Guadalajara, Mexico. A Spanish conquistador and Second-in-command to Hernan Cortes in the expedition for the conquest of Mexico, Pedro occupied the Aztec capital. He was also sent to take over the Mayans and

Joseph Banks was born on 24th February 1743 in London, UK, and he died on 19th June 1820 (aged 77 years) in London, UK. Joseph was a Botanist, scientist and explorer. He explored the newly discovered areas of New Foundland and Labrador and even went as far as Iceland to study the natural history of

Richard Evelyn Byrd was born on 25th October 1888 in Winchester, Virginia, and he died on 11th March 1957 (aged 68 years) in Boston, Massachusetts. The first person to reach the South Pole by air, Richard completed the distance in 18 hours and 41 minutes. He was an American naval officer and polar explorer. He

John Galt was born on 2nd May 1779 in Irvine, Scotland, and he died on 11th April 1839 (aged 60 years) in Greenock, Scotland. Appointed to aid the colonization of Canada, John opened roads through the thick forests between Lakes Huron and Erie and founded the cities of Guelph and Goderich. He explored and travelled

Mungo Park was born on 11th September 1771 in Selkirk, Scotland and he died in January 1806 (aged 35 years) in Bussa, Nigeria. The first westerner to travel to find the source of the Niger River, Mungo wrote about this expedition which became very popular. On the journey he was held prisoner by a Moorish

Robert Edwin Peary was born on 6th May 1856 in Pennsylvania and he died on 20th February 1920 (aged 64 years) in Washington DC. Robert reached the Geographic North Pole with his expedition on 6th April 1909. Robert Peary made his first expedition to the Arctic hoping to cross by a dog-sled. He and a