221 Great Explorers of the World

Prince Henry the Navigator was born on 4th March 1394, Porto, Portugal and he died on 13th November 1460 (aged 66 years) in Sagres, Portugal. Prince Henry, the navigator was a Portuguese explorer and soldier. He sent many expeditions from Portugal to the west coast of Africa, and was responsible for Portugal’s influence in the […]

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was born on 13th March 1499 in Portugal and he died on 3rd January 1543 (aged 44 years) in California, USA. Juan was an explorer and navigator who is known for exploring the West Coast of America for the Spanish empire. He was the first European to navigate the present day California

Pedro Alvarez Cabral was born in 1467 in Belmonte, Portugal, and he died in 1520 (aged 53 years) in Santarem, Portugal. Pedro is considered the discoverer of Brazil. He was a military commander and explorer who conducted the first significant exploration of the North-east coast of South America and claimed it for Portugal. He was

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was born around 1490 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain and he died 27 May 1559 (aged 69 years), Sevilla, Spain. Alvar is very well-known as the exploration of the New World and one of the four survivors of the 1527 Narvaez Expedition. He spent 8 years in the gulf

Jose de Bustamante y Guerra was born on 1st April 1759 in Corvera de Toranzo, Spain and he died on 10th March 1825 (aged 66 years) in Madrid, Spain. Jose was a Spanish naval officer, explorer and politician. He along with Alessandro Malaspina proposed a scientific expedition after the voyages of James Cook. They sailed

Johann Ludwig Burckhardt was born on 24th November 1784 (aged 33 years) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and he died on 15th October 1817 in Cairo, Egypt. Johann was a Swiss traveller and orientalist who is best known for rediscovering the ruins of the ancient Nabataean city of Petra in Jordan. He studied the Arabic customs and

Frederick Russel Burnham was born on 11th May 1861 in Minnesota, United States, and he died on 1st September 1947 (aged 86 years) in  Santa Barbara, California, United States. Frederick was an American scout and explorer who travelled the world. He is known for his services in colonial Africa for the British Army and the

Etienne Brule was born in 1592 in Champigny-sur-Marne, France, and he died in June 1633 (aged 41 years), Great Lakes, Canada. Etienne was the first European explorer to journey beyond the Saint Lawrence river into what is today Canada. He explored the Georgian bay and Huron Lake and Humber river which is in today’s Toronto.

William Speirs Bruce was born 1st August 1867 in London, England, and he died on 28th October 1921 (aged 54 years) in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. William was a Scottish naturalist, polar scientist and oceanographer who led the first and only Scottish National Antarctic Expedition. He set up the first weather station in Antarctica which was

James Bruce was born on 14th December 1730 in Stirlingshire, United Kingdom and died on 27th April 1794 (aged 63 years) in Scotland, United Kingdom. James was a Scottish traveller and travel writer who traced the origins of the Blue Nile. He was first commissioned to study the ancient ruins of Algiers. Afterwards, he travelled

James Felix Bridger was born on 17th March 1804 at Virginia, USA, and he died on 17th July 1881 (aged 77 years) in Missouri, USA. James was an explorer, trapper and guide who explored the Western United States. He is credited with discovering the Great Salt Lake in Utah. He mediated between the Native tribes

Saint Brendan was born in 484 AD in Feint, Ireland, and he died in 577 AD (aged 93 years) in Annaghdown, Ireland. Saint Brendan was also known as ‘The Navigator’, ‘The Voyager’, ‘The Anchorite’ and ‘The Bold’. Little reliable information is found on Saint Brendan but mention of him as a seafarer is given in

Vittorio Bottego was born on 29th July 1860 in Parma, Italy, and he died on 17th March 1897 (aged 37 years) in Ethiopia. Vittorio was an Italian army officer and one of the first Europeans to explore Jubaland which is now in Somalia. He led two expeditions there. In the first expedition, he traced the

Adriaen Block was born in 1567 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and he died in 1627 (aged 60 years) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Adriaen was best known for exploring the coastal and river valley areas between New Jersey and Massachusetts of the present day. He also set up colonies in Connecticut which were the first ones for that

Colonel John Blashford-Snell was born on 22nd October 1936 in Hereford, UK, and he is now aged 81 years. John is a former British Army officer, explorer and author. He went to Sandhurst, then joined the Royal Engineers, returning to Sandhurst as adventure training officer, to run expeditions in the Army. He founded the Operation