221 Great Explorers of the World

Hiram Bingham III was born on 19th November 1875 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and he died on 6th June 1956 (aged 81 years) in Washington DC, USA. An explorer, academic and politician, Hiram made the existence of the Inca citadel in Macchu Pichhu known to the public in 1911. He was also one of the pioneers […]

Vitus Jonassen Bering was born on 5th August 1681 in Denmark and he died on 19th December 1741 (aged 60 years) in Bering Island, Russia. Vitus was the leader of two Russian expeditions exploring the North-eastern coast of Asia and the Western coast of North America to map new areas. He undertook the second trip

Maurice Benyovszky was born on 20th September 1746 in Vrbove, Slovakia and he died on 24th May 1786 (aged 40 years) in Ambohitralanana, Madagascar. A Hungarian nobleman, writer and military officer, Moric was offered the privilege to colonize Madagascar where he proclaimed himself King of Madagascar. Later, he came to America where he proposed the

Benjamin of Tudela was born in 1130 in Tudela, Spain, and he died in 1173 (aged 53 years) in Castile, Spain. Benjamin was a Jewish traveller who visited Europe, Asia and Africa in the 12th century. He is an important person in the history of the medieval times because of his knowledge of languages. He

Joseph Rene Bellot was born on 18th March 1826 in Paris, France, and he died on 18th August 1853 (aged 27 years) in  Wellington Channel, Canada. An Arctic explorer, Joseph went on the second expedition to the Arctic to search for Sir John Franklin. During his two years’ tour of duty he was wounded and

Sir Ranulph Twisleton Wykeham Fiennes was born on 7th March 1944 in Windsor, England, and he still lives there today. Ranulph was a British officer, adventurer and explorer. He was the first person to visit both the South and North Poles by surface means. He was also the first person to cross Antarctica on foot.

Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen was born on 20th September 1778 in Estonia and he died on 25th January 1852 (aged 74 years) in Kronstadt, Russia. A Russian naval officer, who discovered the continent of Antarctica, Fabian also participated in the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe. After the expedition, he published a collection of maps

Pyotr Beketov was born in 1600, in Russia and he died in 1661 (aged 61 years) in Tobolsk, Russia. The founder of many cities, Pyotr was sent to Siberia and was the first Russian to enter Buryatia where he founded the first Russian settlement. He was in military service and was sent to Siberia from

William Beebe was born on 29th July 1877 in New York, USA, and he died on 4th June 1962 (aged 85 years) in Trinidad. William was a naturalist who was known for his deep dives in Bathyspheres to study marine animals and his study of the world’s pheasants. He founded a research station in Trinidad

Nicolas Thomas Baudin was born on 17th February 1754 in France and he died on 16th September 1803 (aged 49 years) in Mauritius. Nicolas was a French explorer, cartographer and naturalist. He undertook the expedition to map the coast of New Holland, now Australia. The aim of the expedition was to research and observe the

Giosafat Barbaro was born in 1413 in Venice, Italy, and he died in 1494 (aged 81 years) in Venice, Italy. Giosafat was a diplomat, travel writer and explorer. He was a member of the influential Barbaro family of Venice. He travelled extensively for the times he lived in. Giosafat’s account of his travels provides more

Robert Duane Ballard was born on 30th June 1942 in Kansas, USA and he still lives there today. He is most well-known for his discovery of the Titanic. Robert is noted for his work in Marine archaeology. He also discovered the Battleship Bismarck, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and the wreck of John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s

William Baffin was born in 1584 in London, United Kingdom and he died on 23rd January 1622 (aged 38 years) in Qesham, Iran. William was a navigator, best known for his attempt to discover a passage in the Northwest from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. He is also well known for the accuracy of

Admiral Sir George Back was born on 6th November 1796 in Cheshire, UK, and he died on 23rd June, 1878 (aged 81 years) in London, UK. A British Naval Admiral, naturalist and artist, George was an explorer who is remembered to have explored the Canadian Arctic. His expedition to the Canadian Arctic was a proposition

Vaino Auer was born on 7th January 1895 in Helsinki, Finland, and he died on 20th March 1981 (aged 86 years) in Helsinki, Finland. Auer was a professor of geography at the University of Helsinki. Vaino expert in swamp geology, he documented the Earth’s climatic history and explored the areas of Tierra del Fuego and