221 Great Explorers of the World

Eusebio Francisco Kino was born on 10th August 1645 in the Holy Roman Empire and he died on 15th March 1711 (aged 66 years) in the Spanish Empire. An Italian Jesuit, geographer, cartographer and explorer, Eusebio was a missionary who stayed in the region which is now Sonora in Mexico and southern Arizona in the […]

Robert Kennicott was born on 13th November 1835 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, and he died on 13th May 1866 (aged 31 years) in Alaska, United States. A naturalist, Robert undertook an expedition to Northwestern Canada to collect natural history specimens in the Sub-Arctic boreal forests which are now Mackenzie and Yukon River valleys.

Edmund Besley Court Kennedy was born on 5th September 1818 in Guernsey, United Kingdom, and he died on 23 December 1848 (aged 30 years) in Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. An English explorer in Australia, Edmund  Kennedy explored the interiors of Queensland and northern New South Wales which included the Thomson and Barcoo Rivers, Cooper

George Kennan was born on 16th February 1845 in Norwalk, Ohio, United States, and he died on 10th May 1924 (aged 79 years) in Medina, New York, United States. George was a journalist and American explorer who is known for his travels to Kamchatka and Caucasus regions of the Russian Empire. George travelled to Russia

Johann Karl Ehrenfried Kegel was born on 3rd October 1784 in Friesdorf, Germany, and he died on 25th June 1863 (aged 79 years) in Odessa, Ukraine. Known as the explorer of Kamchatka Peninsula, Johann was sent to Kamchatka by the Russian Government to check it for the possibilities of agriculture and mining. He travelled through

Thorfinn Karlsefni was born around the year 980 AD in Iceland and he died after 1007 AD. Following the footsteps of Leif Eriksson, Thorfinn made his way to Vinland in an attempt to establish a permanent colony there. His expeditions are known because of their mention in the ‘Saga of the Greenlanders’ and the ‘Saga

Roberto Ivens was born on 12th June 1850 in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, and he died on 28th January 1898 (aged 47 years) in Lisbon, Portugal. Roberto was an explorer, geographer and naval officer who is famed for the exploration of Africa. He began his exploration in Angola and for three years travelled the colonies of

Helge Marcus Ingstad was born on 30th December 1899 in Meraker, Norway, and he died on 29th March 2001 (aged 101 years) in Oslo, Norway. Helge was a Norwegian explorer who not only mapped the Norse settlements but also found the remains of a Viking settlement in New Foundland, Canada. He and his wife, who

James Sather Hutchinson was born on 1867 in San Francisco, California, USA, and he died on 1959 (aged 92 years). A lawyer, mountaineer and environmentalist, James is noted for exploring Sierra Nevada. He along with Le Conte and Mc Duffie pioneered a high mountain route from Yosemite National Park to King’s Canyon. They had covered

Hamilton Hume was born on 19th June 1797 in Seven Hills, Australia, and he died on 19th April 1873 (aged 76 years), Yass, Australia. An explorer of the present day Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria, Hamilton was an expert Bushman. He went on the journey with the Surveyor-General and another person during

Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt was born on 14th September 1769 in Berlin, Germany, and he died on 6th May 1859 (aged 89 years) in Berlin, Germany. A Prussian geographer, Alexander explored Latin America and described it for the first time scientifically, laying the foundation of modern geomagnetic and meteorological monitoring. He was one

William Hilton Hovell was born on 26th April 1786 in Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom, and he died on 9th November 1875 (aged 89 years) in Sydney, Australia. William is known for exploring Australia along with Hamilton Hume; they are credited with exploring much of Victoria. He discovered the Burragorang valley. He and  Hamilton Hume were

Emil Holub was born on 7th October 1847 in Holice, Czech Republic, and he died on 21st February 1902 (aged 55 years) in Vienna, Austria. A Czech physician and cartographer, Emil was inspired by the writing of David Livingstone and settled in Kimberely in South Africa to practise medicine. His first expedition was experimental where

Clement Hodgkinson was born in 1818, South Hampton, UK, and he died on 5th September 1893 (aged 75 years) Melbourne, Australia. A naturalist and surveyor, Clement explored the northeastern areas of New South Wales becoming the first European to come in contact with the Aborigines. He then went on to follow the river valleys of

Commander William Lewis Herndon was born on 25th October 1813, Virginia, USA, and he died on 12th September 1857 (aged 44 years), North Carolina, USA. A naval officer and explorer, William is well-known for his exploration of the Valley of Amazon which was mostly unknown at that time. He worked his way treading 4,336 miles