221 Great Explorers of the World

Francisco Pizarro was born around 1471 in Spain and was assassinated on 26th June 1541 (aged 70 years) in Lima, Peru. Francisco Pizarro was a colonist who conquered the Inca Empire for the Spanish Empire by taking the Inca King Atahualpa prisoner, holding him for a ransom but killing him despite getting it. Hearing of

Captain John Smith was born in 6 January 1580 in Willoughby, England, and he died on 21st June 1631 (aged 51 years) in London, England. The founder of the first permanent English colony to settle in Virginia, John Smith arrived there in 1607 to set up the Jamestown colony when he was captured by the

Hernan Cortes was born in 1485 in Medellin, Spain, and he died on 2nd December 1547 (aged 62 years) Castilleja de la Cuesta, Spain. Hernan Cortes was an intelligent administrator, ruthless fighter, and capable leader. He conquered the Aztec Empire for Spain, killing the Aztec King with the help of the Tlaxcala people. When put

Ferdinand Magellan was born in 3 February 1480 in Portugal and he died on 27th April 1521 (aged 41 years) in Cebu, Philippines. Ferdinand was the first man to circumnavigate the globe. He sailed with five ships and over 270 men. They finally made it to the Mariana Islands where they stocked up on food

Neil Alden Armstrong was born on 5th August 1930 in Ohio and he died on 25th August 2012 (aged 82 years) in Ohio, United States. Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. He got his pilot’s licence at the age of 15 and later joined the navy as a fighter pilot.

Lieutenant William Clark II was born on 1st August 1770 in Virginia, United States, and he died on 1st September 1838 (aged 68 years) in Missouri, United States. William Clark was the other leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition exploring the Louisiana Territory and was responsible for hiring and training men for the expedition.

Captain Meriwether Lewis was born on 18th August 1774 in Virginia and he died on 11th October 1809 (aged 35 years). As the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition his mission was to explore Louisiana Territory. He collected scientific data on indigenous nations, the flora and fauna of the area. Captain Lewis and Clark

Vasco da Gama was born in about 1460 in Sines, Portugal, and he died on 24 December 1524 in Kochi, Portuguese India. In 1497, Vasco da Gama was appointed to command a ship with the goal of discovering a sailing route to India. A nobleman commissioned to find a maritime route to the East, he

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian, born on 9th March 1454 in Florence and he died on 22nd February 1512 (aged 58 years) in Seville, Spain. Amerigo Vespucci undertook several expeditions during which he discovered Brazil; he recognised that South America was an all new continent and not an extended part of Asia. After being made

Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator, born on 31st October 1451 in Italy and he died on 20th May 1506 (aged 55 years) in Spain. Christopher Columbus discovered the ‘New World’ of the Americas on an expedition while trying to find a route to India making four trips across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain between

Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Venice, Italy, and he died on 8th January 1324 (aged 69-70 years) in Venice. Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant who undertook an epic journey to Asia, including India, China and Japan, and returned 24 years later. He recorded his travels in the book ‘The book of Marvels’