Famous Explorers - List of Famous Explorers - page 4

Throughout the history of mankind, there have been several adventurous souls who set out to explore the unknown. Spirited and courageous, they risked their lives on their expeditions to seek out lands hitherto unknown to the civilized world. When we talk of explorers, Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama, would undoubtedly be one of the first names that come to our mind— after all as one of the pioneers of the ‘Age of Exploration’, he was the commander of one of the sailing ships that ventured into India from Europe. Venice native Marco Polo was another legendary explorer who set out to explore Asia and became the first European to meet the Mogul emperor Kublai Khan. While Christopher Columbus was the one to discover America by sailing through the Atlantic Ocean, it was Jacques Cartier, one of the earliest French explorers, who explored the region of Northern America to discover what is now Canada, and claimed the area for France. When US Army volunteers Second Lieutenant William Clark and Captain Meriwether Lewis led the Corps of Discovery Expedition in 1804, it was a woman explorer, Native American Sacagawea, who guided them on this expedition. Scroll down to discover many interesting facts about the famous explorers from all over the world.

The Most Famous Explorers

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
John Cabot1450ItalianJohn Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer who was the first European to discover the coast of North America
Marco Polo1254ItalianMarco Polo was the legendary Italian merchant, explorer and traveler, who travelled to China and worked under emperor, Kublai Khan
Henry Hudson1565BritishHenry Hudson was an early 17th century English navigator and explorer
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado1510SpanishFrancisco Vazquez de Coronado was a Spanish conquistador who became one of the first Europeans to discover the Grand Canyon
Hernán Cortés1485SpanishHernán Cortés was a Spanish soldier, better known as the conqueror of Mexico
Bear GryllsJune 7, 1974BritishBear Grylls is an adventurer popularly known for his bizarre survival tactics in reality television series Man vs
Hernando de Soto1500SpanishHernando de Soto was a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquests of Central America and Peru
Robert PearyMay 6, 1856AmericanRobert Edwin Peary, Sr
Ferdinand Magellan1480PortugueseFerdinand Magellan was a famous Portuguese navigator and explorer
Ibn BattutaFebruary 25, 1304MoroccanIbn Batuta was a famous explorer of the medieval era who chronicled his travel accounts spanning over three decades
John Hanning Speke

John Hanning Speke

John Hanning Speke was an English explorer who became the first European to reach Lake Victoria in east Africa

BritishMay 4, 1827130 views

Robert Falcon Scott

Robert Falcon Scott was a British naval officer and explorer who died on his attempt to be the first to reach the South Pole.

BritishJune 6, 1868111 views

Henry Morton Stanley

Henry Stanley was a Anglo-American journalist and explorer who played a significant role in the exploration of central Africa

BritishJanuary 28, 1841128 views

Leif Erikson

Leif Erikson was an Icelandic explorer who became the first European to reach North America

Icelander970184 views

Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea

Portuguese1469121 views

Richard Francis Burton

Richard Francis Burton was an English polymath who became world renowned after his expeditions to Mecca and Medina

BritishMarch 19, 1821103 views

Sacagawea

Sacagawea is famous for having been the first female guide for an American expedition

American1788139 views

Francisco Pizarro

Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who is known for his expeditions to Peru

SpanishJune 26, 1478167 views

Matthew Flinders

Mathew Flinders is an explorer of English descent, known for discovering Australia

BritishMarch 16, 1774125 views

Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls is an adventurer popularly known for his bizarre survival tactics in reality television series Man vs

BritishJune 7, 1974279 views