221 Great Explorers of the World

Louis Hennepin was born on 12th May 1626 in the present day Belgium and he died on 5th December 1704 (aged 78 years) in Rome. Louis was a Roman Catholic priest who was a missionary and an explorer of the interiors of North America. He was sent to sail through the Great Lakes and explore

Matthew Henson was born on 8th August 1866 in Maryland, United States, and he died on 9th March 1955 (aged 89 years) in New York, United States. The first African-American explorer, Matthew was the co-discoverer of the North Pole along with Robert Edwin Peary. He made an expedition to Nicaragua and Greenland learning the language

Sven Anders Hedin was born on 19th February 1865 in Stockholm, Sweden, and he died on 26th November 1952 (aged 87 years) in Stockholm, Sweden. A Swedish explorer, writer and topographer, Sven is noted for locating the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers. He made daring expeditions into Central Asia where he mapped

Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden was born on 7th September 1829 in Massachusetts, USA, and he died on 22nd December 1887 (aged 58 years) in Philadelphia, USA. A physician and geologist known for pioneering survey expeditions of the Rocky Mountains in the later part of the 19th century, Ferdinand organized and headed geographic surveys to Nebraska and

Ahmed Hassanein Pasha was born on 31st October 1889 in Cairo, Egypt, and he died on 19th February 1946 (aged 57 years) Cairo, Egypt. An Egyptian courtier and was also a writer, photographer and explorer, Ahmed discovered unknown water sources on his journey to Kufra which resulted in the making of new routes to Sudanic

James Augustus Grant was born on 11th April 1827 in Nairn, United Kingdom, and he died on 11th February 1892 (aged 64 years) in Nairn, United Kingdom. An explorer, author and armed forces officer, James explored the eastern equatorial Africa. He joined the Indian army and served during the Indian mutiny of 1857. He later

William Ernest Powell Giles was born on 20th July 1835 in Bristol, England, and he died on 13th November 1897 (aged 62 years) in Coolgardie, Australia. William was an Australian explorer who led five expeditions in central Australia. He first explored north-west of Darling River looking for pastoral and cultivable land for hemp. On his

Romolo Gessi was born on 30th April 1831 in Ravenna, Italy, and he died on 1st May 1881 (aged 50 years) in Suez, Egypt. Romolo was an Italian soldier and explorer who is well-known for having explored North-east Africa, especially Sudan and the Nile River. He fought with the British forces in the Crimean war

Marie Joseph Francis Garnier was born on 25th July 1839 in Saint Etienne, France, and he died on 21st December 1873 (aged 34 years) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Francis was a French officer and became famous for being the person to conceive the idea and to explore the valley of the Mekong River region. He undertook

Thomas William Francis Gann was born on 13th May 1867 in Murrisk Abbey, Ireland, and he died on 24th February 1938 (aged 71 years) in London, UK. A doctor by profession but Thomas is best known for his exploration as an amateur archaeologist of the Mayan civilization ruins. He was stationed in British Honduras as

Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa was born in 1532 in Galicia, Spain, and he died in 1592 (aged 60 years) Lisbon, Portugal. A Spanish explorer, author, historian, mathematician, astronomer and scientist, Pedro Sarmiento started by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to Mexico. He lived there for two years before moving on to Peru where he lived

Dionisio Alcala Galiano was born on 8th October 1760 in Cabra, Spain, and he died on 21st October 1805 (aged 45 years) in Cape Trafalgar, Spain. A cartographer, naval officer and explorer, Dionisio led an expedition that mapped the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia. He was also the first European

Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs was born on 11th February 1908 in Freshwater, United Kingdom, and he died on 11th November 1999 (aged 91 years) in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Sir Vivian was a geologist and explorer who made his name by completing the first crossing of Antarctica over the land in 1958. They completed this feat

Elizabeth Jane Cochran, well known as Nellie Bly, was born on 5th May 1864 in Cochran’s Mills, Pennsylvania, United States, and she died of pneumonia on 22nd January 1922 (aged 57 years) in New York City. Nellie was an American journalist who set the world record for the fastest trip around the world. Inspired by