Otto Yulyevich Schmidt was born on 30th September 1891 in Mogilev, Belarus, and he died on 7th September 1956 (aged 65 years) in Mozzhinka, Russia. Otto Yulyevich Schmidt was a mathematician, scientist, astronomer and Arctic explorer. He led expeditions to the Arctic in which he established the first scientific research station and explored the Kara […]
Jean Baptiste Chardin was born on 16th November 1643 in Paris, France, and he died on 5th January 1713 (aged 69 years) in Chiswick, London, United Kingdom. A French jeweller and traveller, Jean Chardin wrote a 10-volume book on Persia where he lived for four years and learnt the language, customs and traditions. He made
John Lloyd Stephens was born on 28th November 1805, New Jersey, United States, and he died on 13th October 1852 (aged 47 years) in New York, US. An American diplomat and writer, John is best known for the rediscovery of the Mayan civilization and the planning of the Panama railroad. He visited many archaeological sites
There was a rich farmer. He had many cattle and sheep, and many acres of land. But his land bordered a forest, and many small animals made their way into his land. But one day, a lion entered his farmyard. The farmer slowly crept to the gates and locked them. Then he went and hid
Thomas Cavendish was born on 19th September 1560 in the Trimley Saint Martin, United Kingdom, and he died in May 1592 (aged 32 years) in the Atlantic Ocean, sailing on the Atlantic Ocean. An English navigator and privateer, Thomas was the leader of the third circumnavigation of the world and discovered Port Desire, now in
There was a man who lived in a village. He had a donkey. He would put the donkey to work by tying goods on his back and transporting them from one place to another. The man gave very little food to his donkey. The donkey was always sad. One day, the man had to transport
Joao de Castro was born on 27th February 1500 in Lisbon, Portugal, and he died on 6th June 1548 (aged 48 years) in Goa, India. Joao was a Portuguese nobleman and naval officer who contributed to the science of navigation. He was also the first person to note that the compass needle deviated due to
Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya was born on 8th August 1948 in Moscow and she still lives today in Soviet Union, and is now retired. Svetlana was a Russian cosmonaut who had the honour of being the first woman to do a spacewalk and the second woman in space. She flew to space as a part of
Gadiel ‘Cho’ Sanchez Rivera was born on 13th October 1978 in Pucallpa, Peru, and he still lives today. Gadiel is a Peruvian adventurer and a jungle expert. He was hired by the English explorer Ed Stafford as a guide for the journey on the Amazon but later made him an assistant and Gadiel finished this
There was a blacksmith who lived in a little house in a town. He had a pet dog. Many people would visit the blacksmith with their orders and he would be busy at work until night. The blacksmith’s dog was lazy. He slept throughout the day in a corner of the room where the blacksmith
Hermenegildo de Brito Capelo was born in 4th February 1841 in Palmela, Portugal, and he died in 4th May 1917 (aged 75 years) in Lisbon, Portugal. Hermenegildo was an officer of the Portuguese navy and an explorer who is best known for mapping the area between Angola and Mozambique. He along with Roberto Ivens was
Diogo Cao was born about 1450 in Vila Real, Portugal and he died about 1486. A navigator, Diogo was an important explorer in the Age of Discovery. He was the one who discovered the mouth and estuary of the Congo River when he was sent by the Portuguese King to explore the African Coast. He
The schools of a village were closed for the rainy season as there were puddles and pools all around. There was a group of naughty boys in the village. They always roamed from place to place, and were up to some mischief or the other. One day, they got together and sat near a pool,
Martin Alonso Pinzon was born in 1441 in Palos de la Frontera, Spain, and he died on 31st March 1493 (aged 52 years) in La Rabida Friary, Spain. A Spanish mariner, shipbuilder, navigator and explorer, Martin captained the Pinta on Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to America. Martin’s suggestion to change course brought the fleet to
Anatoly Mikhailovich Sagalevich was born on 5th September 1938 in Russia and he still lives today. Anatoly is a Russian explorer who was the pilot of MIR-1DSV (Deep Submergence Vehicles) that reached the seabed at the North Pole during an expedition Arktika. He has been the director of the Russian Deepwater Submersibles Laboratory. He was