221 Great Explorers of the World

Jacob Le Maire was born in about 1585 in Antwerp, Belgium, and he died on 22nd December 1616 (aged 31 years) Indian Ocean. Jacob was a Dutch explorer who is famous for circumnavigating the Earth twice in 1615 and 1616. Jacob and Willem Schouten sailed across the Pacific visiting the Polynesian Islands. They were the […]

Ludwig Leichhardt was born on 23rd October 1813 in Tauche, Germany, and he disappeared on 3rd April 1848 (aged 34 years) in Darling Downs, Australia. Ludwig was a Prussian explorer and naturalist who was known for his exploration of northern and central Australia. He first came to Australia to explore inland Australia. He went to

John Ledyard was born in November 1751, Connecticut, USA, and he died on 10th January 1789 (aged 37 years) in Cairo, Egypt. John was an American explorer who joined Captain Cook on his final voyage and covered the Cape of Good Hope to Tonga, Tahiti, Alaska, Hawaii and Kamchatka. John also took on a bold

Albert von Le Coq was born on 8th September 1860 in Berlin, Germany, and he died on 21st April 1930 (aged 70 years) in Berlin, Germany. Albert was a brewery owner and wine merchant who got interested in archaeology later in life. He became a famous explorer of Central Asia. He planned and organized expeditions

Jean-Francois de Galaup was born on 23rd August 1741 in Albi, France, and he died in 1788 (aged 47 years) in the Solomon Islands. A French naval officer noted for his expedition to the Oceania to complete the discoveries of James Cook in the Pacific area, Jean-Francois intended to correct and complete the maps of

Grigory Langsdorff was born on 8th April 1774 in Wollstein, Germany, and he died on 9th June 1852 (aged 77 years) in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. A naturalist and physician, Grigory was a part of the Russian team that circumnavigated the Earth. While posted in Brazil he collected many specimens of plants, animals and minerals

Richard Lemon Lander was born on 8th February 1804 in Truro, United Kingdom, and he died on 6th February 1834 (aged 30 years) in Nigeria. Richard was an explorer of western Africa. Upon Clapperton’s death Richard took over the expedition as he was the only European member of the team. They followed it for 160

Major Alexander Gordon Laing was born on 27th December 1794 in Edinburgh, USA, and he died on 26th September 1826 (aged 31 years) in Araouane, Mali. A British officer, Alexander was the first European to reach Timbuktu from the North and also find the source of River Rokel. He tried to locate the source of

Adam Johann von Krusenstern was born on 10th October 1770 in Hagudi, Rapla Parish, Estonia, and he died on 12th August 1846 (aged 75 years) in Tallinn, Estonia. Adam was a Russian admiral and  explorer who led the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe. The main reason for this expedition was the development of the

Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov was born on 15th October 1863 in Smolensk, Russia, and he died on 26th September 1935 (aged 72 years) in Petergof, Russia. A traveller and explorer who studied Mongolia and Tibet, Pyotr joined the expedition of Nikolai Przhevalsky. After his death, he continued his travelling in Asia and explored and described the

Otto von Kotzebue was born on 30th December 1787 in Reval, now in Tallinn, Estonia, and he died on 15th February 1846 (aged 58 years) in Tallinn, Estonia. A Russian naval officer who circumnavigated the Earth three times, Otto charted much of the Alaskan coast and commanded an expedition to find a passage across the

Fyodor Konyukhov (Fedor Filippovich Konyukhov) was born on 12th December 1951 in the village of Chkalovo, Ukraine, and he still lives today. A Russian survivalist, sailor and balloon pilot, Fyodor is the only person to have reached the extreme points on the planets, the North Pole (thrice), the South Pole, Pole of inaccessibility in the

Alexander Vasilyevich Kolchak was born on 16th November 1874 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and he died on 7th February 1920 (aged 46 years) in Irkutsk, Soviet Russia. A commander in the Imperial Russian Navy and Polar explorer, Alexander helped design two special ice breakers to be launched for a cartographic expedition. He commanded one of

Amyr Klink was born on 25th September 1955 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and he still lives today. Amyr was a sailor and explorer who is best known for circumnavigating Antarctic continent on his own in 79 days in 1998. Amyr was also the first person to row across the South Atlantic starting from Namibia and

Maria Vasilyevna Klenova was born in 12th August 1898, in Irkutsk, Russia, and she died on 6th August 1976 (aged 78 years) in Moscow, Russia. Maria was a Russian marine geologist and  contributor to the first Soviet Antarctic atlas which was groundbreaking work. She made the first complete sea bed map of the Barents Sea