Famous European Explorers

History today remembers English-born Douglas Mawson as one of the most popular explorers of Antarctic who lived most of his life in Australia. Here you can learn more about his life and the way he explored Antarctica.

Ernest Shacketon is today remembered as one of the most popular explorers of the Antarctic. During his life he led several missions to the frozen continent, managing to reach as close as 102 miles from the pole.

George Everest was famous Welsh geographer and surveyor that is best remembered today by the Mont Everest, the tallest mountain in the world that was named after him. Learn more about his life and achievements here.

George Vancouver was famous British Navy officer and navigator who is today best remembered by the Canadian city of Vancouver which carries his name. Here you can read more about his life, exploratory missions and other achievements.

British naval officer Sir George Back managed during his life to distinguish himself in both military career and as a naturalist and explorer. His efforts unveiled new unexplored area of the far north sea, survive harsh winters on the sea and return home in almost completely damaged ship.

Famous English Explorer Henry Hudson is remembered today for his mapping exploits on the territory of the northeastern United States, most notably discovery of the Hudson River and Hudson Bay.

Modern history remembers James Cook as one of the most important naval officers of the British naval fleet. During his life he performed several expeditions in the Pacific, discovered Hawaii and tried to discovered way through Northwestern Passage.

More than 100 years before first explorer set his foot on the North Pole, the early exploration of the North and South Pole started to be realized with the efforts of the many influential explorers. One of the most famous one of them was John Franklin.

During his life British naval officer and explorer John Ross visited both Arctic and South Pole, but his biggest claim to fame arrived during the years when he tried to find the route through Northwestern Passage.

John Smith is today remembered as one of the most celebrated figures in the early history of North America. Here you can learn more about his exploits in establishing first English settlement in the United States and other adventures.

Joseph Banks is remembered in the history of World and England as one of the most influential botanists and scientific patrons of his time. During his long life he was invested in both personal exploration efforts and managing several notable scientific institutions.

The end of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration did not mean that Antarctic had no more challenges left in it. This was proved by British explorer and adventurer Ranulph Fiennes who managed to cross Antarctic on foot and visit south pole.

Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration had many heroes, but one of the most famous ones was Robert Falcon Scott who tragically died in the snow together with the part of his expedition group shortly after returning from South Pole which was conquered by Roald Admunsen just few weeks earlier.

History remembers Sir Humphrey Gilbert not only as a brother of famous Sir Walter Raleigh, but also as a very important British explorer, adventurer soldier and position who played important part in the effort of England to colonize North American continent.

Simon Fraser is today remembered as one of the important figures in the 19th history of Canada, whose exploits as explorer and cartographer formed the modern borders of British Columbia.

Sir Martin Frobisher managed during his life to become famous for his unsuccessful efforts of exploration in Northern Atlantic where he tried to find way through the Northwestern Passage between Artic polar Ice and Canada.

Sir Richard Grenville was a cousin of the Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake, responsible for several victories against Spanish naval armadas and establishing English colonies in the New World.

During the time when Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Richard Grenville made their numerous exploits in warfare, trading and exploration, Sir John Hawkins made name for himself by organizing defense of England against Spanish Armada in 1588 and spearheading movement of transporting slaves from Africa into the New World.

The life of the naval explorer in the late 16th and early 17th century was best recorded in the popular book “Voiage into the South Sea” that was written by the famous English admiral, privateer and explorer Sir Richard Hawkins.

The quest for mystical city of El Dorado was much publicized tale that attracted many explorers to organized expeditions to Americas. Sir Walter Raleigh was one of those explorers, but his greatest claim to fame was not his discoveries, but his books that described exaggerated events from his adventures in North America.

Thomas Cavendish was a famous English naval explorer who made the name for himself by becoming the first man who has deliberately circumvented the Earth. He raided several Spanish ships and finished the journey around the world in record time. Learn more about his exploits here.

England was a home of many Polar explorers, and Vivian Fuchs was one of the most famous ones. During his life he managed to become third man who managed to reach South Pole.

The quest for finding mythical El Dorado attracted many explorers, including Spanish conquistador Francisco Vasquez de Coronado who managed to lead very large expedition around the area of river Rio Grande.

Hernando de Soto was a famous Spanish Conquestador who managed to claim his spot in history by exploring territories in Florida, southeastern US, Missisippi and the destruction of Incan empire under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro.

Juan de la Cosa remains remembered today as naval navigator and the creator of the famous map of the world called "Mappa Mundi". He crated that map sailing on his ship "Santa Maria" that followed Christopher Columbus on his journey to the shores of Central America in 1492.

Juan Ponce de Leon is a famous Spanish Explorer who has managed during his life to claim his spot in history by being one of the first explorers to enter the Gulf of Mexico, explore and colonize Florida, and more. Learn more about his life here.

Juan de Onate is today remembered as one of the last Spanish conquistadores who during his life managed to be involved in several important exploratory missions, discovery of new Native American cultures and colonization of the New World.

Pedro de Alvarado is today remembered as one of the most important Spanish conquistadors who was involved in several military campaigns in Central America, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the downfall of the Aztec culture.

In the early years of the 16th century Spanish captain Sebastián de Ocampo proved to the world that the Caribbean island Hispaniola (now known as Cuba) was not the part of the larger continent but that is island instead.

Spanish explorer and conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa managed during his life to discover one of the most important discoveries in Central America – the way to the Pacific Ocean via Strait of Panama.

Finding the sea trade route to the India was a life goal of many Portuguese explorer toward the end of 15th century. Diogo Cão did not manage to achieve that goal, but his discoveries paved the way for Vasco Da Gama.

We today remember Ferdinand Magellan as one of the most important sea navigators of all time, with his 3 year mission to circumvent the world by sea on for the first time managing to change the history of our world forever. Learn more about him here.

Many Spanish explorers distinguished themselves by making discoveries in Central and North America, but Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo will remain forever remembered by his exploits in charting the coast of California.

Portuguese nobleman, explorer and military leader Pedro Álvares Cabral is remembered today as the first European who landed on the coast of South America, opening that continent to the expansion of European settlers.

Vasco da Gama remains remembered today as one of the most important sea navigators and explorers of the Age of Discovery. Learn more about his life here, especially about his very influential journey to India.

Italian explorer, cartographer and navigator Amerigo Vespucci has played big role in the history of the Age of the Exploration by managing to be first to come to the conclusion that newfound New World on the west of the Europe is a standalone continent and not a part of Asia.

Giosafat Barbaro was one of the most-traveled members of Venetian state whose travelogues and articles managed to paint a very interesting picture of central and Eastern Europe in 15th century.

Early 16th century was filled with numerous explorers who have started charting the coast of New World in search for the way to India. One of the more famous navigators from that time was Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano who mapped northwestern coast of United States and Canada.

Italian navigator John Cabot became second European person to land on the New World while sailing under flag of England. Here you can find out more about his life and discoveries.

Many explorers of the New World are famous for their discoveries, but Cabeza de Vaca is today remembered for his disastrous expedition in which he barely managed to survive and after many years of hardship return to Europe.

French explorer Jacques Cartier remains remembered today as the first person who claimed the territory of Canada for the French King Francis I. Here you can learn more about his life and his exploits on the North America.

Among many explorers of the North American Continent, French Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette managed to distinguish himself for the exploration of the northern parts of Mississippi River and discovering of the location where city of Chicago is today located.

Early exploration of the North American continent cannot be said without mentioning the exploits of the famous French Explorer Samuel de Champlain who was responsible for naming the country of Canada and igniting colonization of its territory.

Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen is today remembered not only for winning a Nobel Prize for peace, but also for establishing several bases in the frozen Arctic that helped all future explorers who wanted to reach the North Pole.

Discovery of the New World was often attributed to the Christopher Collumbus, however history tells us that almost 500 earlier one Norse navigator (Leif Ericson) managed to travel to Iceland, Grenland and eventually land on the shore of the Baffin Island off the shore of Canada. Learn more about his life and discoveries here.

Roald Amundsen is without a doubt one of the most famous explorers of Polar regions. He managed to be a first man who claimed South Pole, and he dedicated the rest of his life for searching of Northwestern Passage and helping other explorers in trouble.

Alexander Gordon Laing is today remembered as one of the casualties of the early 19th century exploration of Africa. However, before he died he managed to become first European to reach the isolated city of Timbuktu.

Scotland explorer John Rae managed to secure his place in history with his numerous journeys to the Canadian northwest where he tried to map Northwestern passage, and also for being first person who found resting place of the doomed Franklin expedition.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie is a famous Scottish explorer who managed to become first European who performed overland crossing of North America from East to West Coast above the territories of Mexico, predating the famous expedition of Lewis and Clark for 10 years.