221 Great Explorers of the World

Vladimir Klavdiyevich Arsenyev was born on 10th September 1872 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and he died on 4th September 1930 (aged 58 years) in Vladivostok, Russia. Vladimir is known for documenting and describing the various species of Siberian flora and the lifestyle of the ethnic people. He undertook many expeditions where he acutely studied the […]

Roy Chapman Andrews was born on 26th January 1884 in  Beloit, Wisconsin, United States and he died on 11th March 1960 (aged 76 years) in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, United States. A renowned naturalist, Roy led expeditions into the Gobi desert and Mongolia. He brought back the first known dinosaur’s eggs and numerous precious fossils. Roy travelled

Salomon August Andree was born on 18th October 1854 in Granna, Sweden, and he died in October 1897 (aged 43 years) in Kvitoya. Salomon was a Swedish engineer, physicist, aeronaut and explorer. He is best known for attempting to reach the North Pole by a hydrogen balloon. This expedition was unsuccessful and led to the

Henryk Arctowski was born on 21st July 1871 in Warsaw, Poland, and he died on 21st February 1958 (aged 87 years) in Bethesda, United States. A Polish scientist and explorer who was the first person to spend winters in the Antarctic region where Henryk performed scientific work and observations himself with just an assistant. Various

Antonio de Andrade was born in 1580 in Oleiros, Portugal, and he died on 19th March 1634 (aged 54 years) in Goa Velha. Antonio was an explorer and a Jesuit priest. He was the first person to cross the Himalayas to reach Tibet where he was the first to establish a Catholic mission. Antonio and

Jorge Alvares was born in the late 15th century in Portugal and he died on 8th July 1521 in Tamao, China. Jorge was a Portuguese explorer who is credited with being the first European to have reached China by sea. He made contact with the Chinese when they landed on the historic city of Guangzhou

Benedict Collin Allen was born on 1st March 1960 in Cheshire, England, and he still lives there. Benedict is an author, adventurer, film maker and explorer. He is best known for his techniques of mingling with the indigenous people from whom he learns survival skills. His expeditions include a trip to a volcano in Costa

Francisco de Almeida was born in 1450 in Lisbon, Portugal, and he died on 1st March 1510 (aged 60 years) in the Cape of Good Hope. Francisco was a Portuguese Explorer and soldier who was responsible for the Portuguese dominance over the Indian Ocean. The King of Portugal appointed Francisco the first governor and Viceroy

Diego de Almagro was born in 1475 in Almagro, Spain, and he died on 8th July 1538 (aged 63 years) in Cusco, Peru. Diego was the first European to discover Chile when he participated in the Spanish conquest of Peru. He led the expedition that conquered the Inca empire along with Francisco Pizarro but there

Friar Andres de Urdaneta was born on 30th November 1498 in Villafranca de Oria, Spain, and he died on 3rd June 1568 (aged 70 years), in Mexico City. Friar Andres spent eight adventurous years in the Spice Islands (Moluccas) and then, in 1553, entered the Augustinian order in Mexico City. Philip II of Spain asked

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