antarctic explorers

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Antarctic Explorers More information on Antarctica

AMUNDSEN, ROALD Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) wasa Norwegian polar explorer whowas the first person to fly over the North Pole in a dirigible (May 11-13, 1926) and was the first personto reach the South Pole. Amundsen

and his small expedition reached the South Poleon December 14, 1911, traveling by dog sled.Amundsen was also the first person to sail aroundthe world through the Northeast and Northwest

passages, from the Atlantic to the Pacific (in1905). He was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. Amundsen died in a planecrash attempting to rescue his friend, the Italianexplorer Umberto Nobile who was lost in anairship.

For more information on Amundsen, click here.

BYRD, RICHARD E. Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd (1888-1957) was an Arctic and Antarctic explorer, pioneeringaviator, and US Naval Officer. On May 9, 1926, Byrd (the navigator) and Floyd Bennett (the pilot) made what may have been the first airplane trip over the North Pole, in a 15 1/2 hour flight; they flew from King's Bay, Spitsbergen, Norway, to the North Pole and back again. Thereis a dispute as to whether or not they actually reached the pole. He also made many trips toAntarctica.

For more information on Byrd, click here.

COOK, JAMES James Cook (October 27, 1728- February 14,1779) was a British explorer and astronomer who went on many expeditions to the Pacific

Ocean, Antarctic, Arctic, and around the world.

Cook's first journey was from 1768 to 1771,when he sailed to Tahiti in order to observeVenus as it passed between the Earth and theSun (in order to try to determine the distance between the Earth and the Sun). During this



expedition, he also mapped northern Australia.

Cook's second expedition (1772-1775) took him to Antarctica and to Easter Island.

Cook's last expedition (1776-1779) was a search for a Northwest Passage across North America

to Asia. Cook was killed by a mob on Feb. 14, 1779, on the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). At thetime, he was trying to take the local chief hostage to get the natives to return a sailboat they hadstolen.

Cook was the first ship's captain to stop the disease scurvy (now known to be caused by a lack of vitamin C) among sailors by providing them with fresh fruits. Before this, scurvy had killed or incapacitated many sailors on long trips.

For more information on James Cook, click here.

FIENNES, RANULPH Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (March 7, 1944- ) is an English explorer and author who has led over 30 expeditions to the North and South Poles, the desert, the Nile, and manyother remote places. In 1982, Fiennes led the first polar circumnavigation of the Earth. In 1992,Fiennes and others found the legendary Lost City of Ubar in the desert of Oman. In 1993,Fiennes and Dr. Mike Stroud made the first unsupported walk across the continent of Antarctica,each man dragging a 500-pound sledge.

Fiennes holds many world exploration records. The Guiness Book of Records described Fiennesas "the world's greatest living explorer."

For more information on Fiennes, click here.

HILLARY, EDMUND Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (1919 - ) is a mountain climber, Antarctic explorer, and beekeeper from New Zealand. Hillary and the Nepalese mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, were the first peopleto reach the top of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in theworld (29,028 feet = 8,848 m). Hillary went on many other adventures, including other expeditions than to Mt. Everest, reaching the South Pole by tractor on Jan. 4, 1958, and climbingMt. Herschel (10,941 feet = 3,335 m) in 1967 (his was the first expedition to climb it), andleading the first expedition to jet boat up the Ganges River to find its source. Hillary wrote many books about his adventures, including High Adventure (1955), The Crossing of Antarctica (1958;with Fuchs), and No Latitude for Error (1961), and Nothing Venture, Nothing Win (1975).

MAWSON, DOUGLAS Douglas Mawson (1882 - 1958) was an Australian geologist and explorer. Mawson was amember of the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-1909) which was led by Ernest Shackleton.On a three-man sledge trip, Mawson, A.F. Mackay, and Edgeworth David traveled to themagnetic South Pole. Mawson was among the first to climb Antarctica's Mount Erebus. Mawsonalso went on the scientific Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911-1914). During thisexpedition, Mawson went on an ill-fated trip in which only Mawson survived, walking 100 miles(160 km) alone, hauling his geological specimens on a sled. His book "The Home of the



Blizzard," is an account of this journey. Later, Mawson led the British, Australian, New ZealandAntarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE) of 1929-31, mapping the coastline of Antarctic anddiscovering Mac. Robertson land and Princess Elizabeth Land (which later became theAustralian Antarctic Territory). Early in his career, in 1906, Mawson identified and named theradioactive mineral Davidite (named for T. W. Edgeworth David). Mawson appears on an

Australian stamp and $100 bill.ROSS, JAMES CLARK Sir James Clark Ross (1800 -1862) was a British explorer and naval officer who went onmissions to both the Arctic andthe continent of Antarctica,doing magnetic surveys.

The Arctic: Ross went onArctic expeditions with Sir William E. Parryfrom 1819 to 1827. Ross and his uncle, Sir JohnRoss, located the north magnetic pole on BoothiaPeninsula (in northern Canada, north of KingWilliam Island) on May 31, - June 1, 1831.

Antarctica: James Ross led an Antarcticexpedition (1839-43), commanding the "Erebus"while his friend Francis Crozier commanded the"Terror." Ross charted much of the coastline andin 1841 discovered the Ross Sea, and the Victoria Barrier, which was later renamed the Ross IceShelf.

For a page on James Clark Ross, click here.

SCOTT, ROBERT F. Robert Falcon Scott (June 6, 1868 - March 29, 1912) wasa British naval officer and Antarctic explorer. Scott ledtwo expeditions to the South Pole, and died on thedisastrous second trip, along with his crew. Hisexpedition was the second to reach the South Pole (1910-1912); Roald Amundsen led the first.

For more information on Scott, click here.



SHACKLETON, ERNEST HENRY Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1872-1922) was a British explorer (bornin Ireland) and member of the Royal Naval Reserve. Shackleton wasinvolved in many expeditions attempting to reach the South Pole.

For more information on Shackleton, click here.

WEDDELL, JAMES James Weddell (1787 -1834) was an English explorer, naturalist, geographer, andsealer who sailed on three expeditions to the Antarctic (in the years 1820-21, 1821-22 and 1822-23). Captain Weddell sailed on the brig "Jane." On thesesealing/scientific expeditions, Weddell discovered the WeddellSea (near the South Pole) and the Weddell Seal, Leptonychotesweddelli in 1823. Captain Weddell also set an 80-year record for

the farthest southern latitude reached (74°15'S, set February 20, 1823).

Weddell wrote of his adventures in the book, "A Voyage Towards the SouthPole in the Years 1822-24" (published in 1825). Weddell died in poverty at the age of 47.

Explorers of Africa More information on Africa

ALBUQUERQUE, AFONSO DE Afonso de Albuquerque (14??-1515) was aPortuguese soldier and explorer who sailed tothe Spice Islands (the Moluccas, a group of

Islands in Indonesia) in 1507-1511, trying tomonopolize trade with this area; from Europe,he sailed around Africa to the Indian Ocean. Hewas appointed the Viceroy of India by KingEmmanuel in 1509. He forcibly destroyed theIndian city of Calicut in January, 1510, and took Goa (in southern India) in March, 1510,claiming Goa for Portugal.

BATTUTA, ABU ABDULLAH IBN Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta [also spelled Buttuta] (1303-1365), was a Moroccan

explorer who traveled through Africa, the Middle East, and parts of the Far East. A Muslim, heset off on a Hajj (a pilgrimage to the holy town of Mecca) from Tangier, Africa, in 1325 andtraveled for almost three decades, covering over 75,000 miles (120,700 km) by boat and over land. He did sail his own boat, but was a passenger on many trading boats. In India, Buttuta wasappointed a Magistrate of Delhi (1334-1341). He also traveled to China, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, andmuch of Africa. Buttuta later recorded his adventures in a popular book, "Travels (Rihala) of IbnBattuta." He died in Fez, Morocco, in 1365.

BEHAIM, MARTIN



Martin Behaim (1459-1537) was a German mapmaker, navigator, and merchant. Behaimmade the earliest globe, called the "Nürnberg Terrestrial Globe". It was made during theyears 1490-1492; the painter Georg Glockendon helped in the project. Behaim had previously sailed to Portugal as a merchant (in 1480). He had advised King John II onmatters concerning navigation. He accompanied the Portuguese explorer Diogo Cam (Cão) on a

1485-1486 voyage to the coast of West Africa; during this trip, the mouth of the Congo River was discovered.

After returning to Nürnberg in 1490, Behaim began construction of his globe (which was veryinaccurate as compared to other maps from that time, even in the areas in which Behaim hadsailed).

It was once thought that Behaim's might may have influenced Columbus and Magellan; this isnow discounted. Behaim may have also developed an astrolabe. Behaim's globe is now in theGerman National Museum in Nürnberg.

BURTON, RICHARD F. Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) was an Englishexplorer, linguist, author, and soldier. He was the firstEuropean to see many Muslim cities and LakeTanganyika; he wrote voluminously about his trips.

For more information on Richard Francis Burton, click here.

CABRAL, PEDRO ALVARES Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520) was aPortuguese nobleman, explorer, and navigator who discovered Brazil on April 22,1500. His patron was King Manuel I of Portugal, who senthim on an expedition to India. Cabral's 13 shipsleft on March 9, 1500, following the route of Vasco da Gama. On April 22,1500, he sightedland (Brazil), claiming it for Portugal andnaming it the "Island of the True Cross." King

Manuel later renamed this land Holy Cross; it was later renamed Brazil, after a kind of dyewoodfound there, called pau-brasil. Cabral stayed in Brazil for 10 days and then continued on his wayto India, in a trip fraught with shipwrecks (at the Cape of Good Hope), and fighting (withMuslim traders in India). After trading for spices in India, Cabral returned to Portugal on June23, 1501, with only four of the original 13 ships. After this journey, King Manuel appointedVasco da Gama to head the next expedition, and Cabral retired.

CADAMOSTO, ALVISE DA



Alvise da Cadamosto (1432?-1511?) was a Venetian (fromVenice, Italy) navigator and merchant who sailed for PrinceHenry of Portugal.

In 1455, Prince Henry sent the Cadamosto on two expeditions.

On the first, in 1455, Cadamosto reached the mouth of theGambia River (in west Africa). On the second, in 1456,Cadamosto sailed up the Gambia river to the Geba River. Hetried trading with the Africans but was unsuccessful. Cadamostoclaimed to have discovered the Cape Verde Islands, but this isuncertain.

Cadamosto published a detailed account of his explorations in 1507.

COOK, JAMES James Cook (October 27, 1728- February 14,1779) was a British explorer and astronomer who went on many expeditions to the PacificOcean, Antarctic, Arctic, and around the world.

Cook's first journey was from 1768 to 1771,when he sailed to Tahiti in order to observeVenus as it passed between the Earth and theSun (in order to try to determine the distance between the Earth and the Sun). During thisexpedition, he also mapped northern Australia.


Cook's last expedition (1776-1779) was a search for a Northwest Passage across North Americato Asia. Cook was killed by a mob on Feb. 14, 1779, on the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). At thetime, he was trying to take the local chief hostage to get the natives to return a sailboat they hadstolen.





DA GAMA, VASCO Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) wasa Portuguese explorer whodiscovered an ocean route fromPortugal to the East.

Da Gama sailed from Lisbon,Portugal, around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, toIndia (and back) in 1497-1499. At that time,many people thought that this was impossible todo because it was assumed that the Indian Oceanwas not connected to any other seas.

Da Gama's patron was King Manuel I of Portugal, who sent da Gama, then an Admiral, onanother expedition to India (1502-1503). After King Manuel's death, King John III sent da Gamato India as a Portuguese viceroy (the King's representative in India). Da Gama died in India in

1524.

Go to a page on da Gama.

DE ALBUQUERQUE, AFONSO Afonso de Albuquerque (14??-1515) was aPortuguese soldier and explorer who sailed tothe Spice Islands (the Moluccas, a group of Islands in Indonesia) in 1507-1511, trying tomonopolize trade with this area; from Europe,he sailed around Africa to the Indian Ocean. Hewas appointed the Viceroy of India by KingEmmanuel in 1509. He forcibly destroyed theIndian city of Calicut in January, 1510, and took Goa (in southern India) in March, 1510,claiming Goa for Portugal.

DIAS, BARTOLOMEU Bartolomeu Dias (1457-1500) was a greatPortuguese navigator and explorer who exploredAfrica's coast. In 1488, Dias led the firstEuropean expedition to sail around Africa'sCape of Good Hope, leaving Tagus, Portugal in

1487. This breakthrough of circumnavigatingthe Cape of Good Hope opened up lucrativetrading routes from Europe to Asia. Dias mayhave originally called the southern tip of Africathe "Cape of Storms"; it was later renamed theCape of Good Hope. On a later expedition (in 1500, with Pedro Álvares Cabral), Dias sailed near South America on the way to Africa, and spotted land at Espírito Santo in Brazil, calling it the"Land of the True Cross." Although they thought it to be an island, Dias was still among the first



Europeans to see Brazil. Dias died during this expedition; he was lost at sea near the Cape of Good Hope in 1500.

DIAS, DIOGO Diogo Dias was a Portuguese navigator (and brother of Bartolomeu Dias) who was the firstEuropean to sail to Madagascar, an island off thesoutheastern coast of Africa. Diogo Dias landedin Madagascar in 1500, and named it the Isle of St. Lawrence. His ship had been on anexpedition with Pedro Álvares Cabral andBartolomeu Dias, but Diogo Dias' ship becameseparated from the others at the Cape of GoodHope, and then came upon Madagasacar. He then returned to Portugal.

DRAKE, FRANCIS

Sir Francis Drake (1545-1596)was a British explorer, slave-trader, privateer (a pirateworking for a government) inthe service of England, mayor

of Plymouth, England, and naval officer (he wasan Admiral). Drake led the second expedition tosail around the world in a voyage lasting from1577 to 1580 (Magellan led the first voyagearound the world).

For more information on Francis Drake, click here.

EANNES, GIL Gil Eannes (15th century) was a Portuguese explorer (sailingfor Prince Henry) who was the first person to sail beyond thedreaded Cape Bojador and return. Cape Bojador is on the coastof Africa just below latitude 27° North (off the western SaharaDesert). This feat was amazing because Cape Bojador hadfrequent, violent storms and strong currents. Mariners toldlegends of a "Green Sea of Darkness" beyond this cape, fromwhich there was no return. Eannes' journey in 1434 opened theAfrican coast to navigators, and, soon, many Europeans were exploring the coast of Africa and beyond.

For more information on Eannes, click here.



EBERHARDT, ISABELLA Isabelle Eberhardt (Feb. 17, 1877 - October 21, 1904) was an explorer who livedand traveled extensively in North Africa.

For more information on Eberhardt, click here.

HANNU Hannu was an ancient Egyptian explorer; he made the first recordedexploring expedition. Hennu is said to have sailed down the Red Seato explore the southeastern areas of the Arabian peninsula (calledPunt) around 2750 B.C (during Egypt's 2nd dynasty). He sailed towhat is now part of eastern Ethiopia and Somalia. He returned toEgypt with treasures, including myrrh (a spice) and precious metals.Hannu wrote of his exploration in stone. (Hannu is sometimes calledHennu, which is also the name of a sacred boat of Egyptian gods).

HENRY THENAVIGATOR Prince Henry (Henrique) the Navigator (1394-1460) was aPortuguese royal prince,soldier, and patron of explorers.Henry sent many sailingexpeditions down Africa's westcoast, but did not go on them

himself. Thanks to Prince Henry's patronage,Portuguese ships sailed to the Madeira Islands

(1420), rounded Cape Bojador (Eannes, 1434), sailed to Cape Blanc (1441), sailed around CapVert (1455), and went as far as the Gambia River (Cadamosto, 1456) and Cape Palmas (Gomes,1459-1460).

For more information on Prince Henry, click here

IBN BATTUTA, ABU ABDULLAH Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta [also spelled Buttuta] (1303-1365), was a Moroccanexplorer who traveled through Africa, the Middle East, and parts of the Far East. A Muslim, heset off on a Hajj (a pilgrimage to the holy town of Mecca) from Tangier, Africa, in 1325 andtraveled for almost three decades, covering over 75,000 miles (120,700 km) by boat and over

land. He did sail his own boat, but was a passenger on many trading boats. In India, Buttuta wasappointed a Magistrate of Delhi (1334-1341). He also traveled to China, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, andmuch of Africa. Buttuta later recorded his adventures in a popular book, "Travels (Rihala) of IbnBattuta." He died in Fez, Morocco, in 1365.



KINGSLEY, MARY Mary Henrietta Kingsley (1862-1900) was a British explorer who made two pioneering trips to West and Central Africa. She was the first European to enter remote parts of Gabon.

For more information on Kingsley, click here.

LANDER, RICHARD LEMON Richard Lemon Lander (1804-1834) was an English explorer whomade three trips to West Africa; he and his brother John were the firstEuropeans to canoe down the lower Niger River to its delta (where itmeets the sea).

For more information on Lander, click here.

LIVINGSTONE, DAVID David Livingstone (1813-1873) was a British missionary and explorer who explored the interior of Africa. He arrived as a missionary in Africa in 1841, but began to explore the land in 1853.For over two decades he traveled over land, walking across the continent, and exploring theZambezi River. He searched for the source of the Nile River. Livingstone was the first Europeanto see the enormous Victoria Falls. Livingstone was thought to be dead (because of rumorsstarted by deserters of his expedition), but the American reporter Henry M. Stanley was sent to

Africa to find Livingstone. Stanley found him (1872) and brought him needed food andmedicine, then left to recount the tale to readers. Livingstone died a year later in Africa; his heartwas buried there, but his body was buried in Westminster Abbey, London, England, after an 8-month journey.

MAGELLAN, FERDINAND Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521)was a Portuguese explorer who ledthe first expedition that sailedaround the Earth (1519-1522).Magellan also named the Pacific

Ocean (the name means that it is a calm, peaceful ocean).

For more on Magellan, click here.

Go to a Magellan printout

PARK, MUNGO



Mungo Park (1771-1806) was a Scottish explorer and surgeon who charted the course of the Niger River, in western Africa. Park began at the mouth of the Gambia River on June 21, 1795,and traveled northeast on horseback and by foot over rough country. He reached the Niger River at Ségou (which is now in Mali). Park travelled hundreds of miles, suffering fever andimprisonment along the way. He wrote of his trip in "Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa"

(1797). At the request of the Scottish government, Park went on a second expedition in 1805 tofind the source of the Niger River. During this unsuccessful mission, Park and his expeditionmembers were attacked at the rapids of Bussa, where Park drowned.

Arctic Explorers

AMUNDSEN, ROALD Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) was a Norwegian polar explorer who was the first person to fly over the North Pole in a dirigible (May 11-13, 1926) and was the first person to reach the South Pole. Amundsen and his small expedition reached theSouth Pole on December 14, 1911, traveling by dog sled. Amundsen was also thefirst person to sail around the world through the Northeast and Northwest passages, from the Atlantic to the Pacific (in 1905). He was the first person to

reach both the North and South Poles. Amundsen died in a plane crash attempting to rescue hisfriend, the Italian explorer Umberto Nobile who was lost in an airship.


BOYD, LOUISE A. Louise Arner Boyd (1887-1972), known as the "ice woman," was an American who repeatedlyexplored and photographed the Arctic Ocean; she was also the first woman to fly over the North

Pole. Born in San Rafael, California, (near San Francisco), Boyd inherited the family fortune(made by her father's investment company) when she was 33 years old (in 1920).

For more information on Boyd, click here.

BYRD, RICHARD E. Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd (1888-1957) was an Arctic and Antarctic explorer, pioneeringaviator, and US Naval Officer. On May 9, 1926, Byrd (the navigator) and Floyd Bennett (the pilot) made what may have been the first airplane trip over the North Pole, in a 15 1/2 hour flight; they flew from King's Bay, Spitsbergen, Norway, to the North Pole and back again. Thereis a dispute as to whether or not they actually reached the pole. He also made many trips toAntarctica.

For more information on Byrd, click here.

FIENNES, RANULPH Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (March 7, 1944- ) is an English explorer and author who has led over 30 expeditions to the North and South Poles, the desert, the Nile, and manyother remote places. In 1982, Fiennes led the first polar circumnavigation of the Earth. In 1992,Fiennes and others found the legendary Lost City of Ubar in the desert of Oman. In 1993,



Fiennes and Dr. Mike Stroud made the first unsupported walk across the continent of Antarctica,each man dragging a 500-pound sledge.

Fiennes holds many world exploration records. The Guiness Book of Records described Fiennesas "the world's greatest living explorer."

For more information on Fiennes, click here.

FRANKLIN, JOHN Sir John Franklin (1786-1847) was an English explorer and Admiral who proved the existence of a Northwest Passage (a water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean throughCanada). In 1819 to 1822, Franklin surveyed part of the northwestern Canadian coast east of theCoppermine River. On a second expedition, from 1825 to 1827, Franklin explored the NorthAmerican coast from the mouth of the Mackenzie River, in northwestern Canada, westward toPoint Beechey (Alaska, USA).

In 1845, Franklin sailed from England with an expedition of 128 men to Canada in search of Northwest Passage. The ship became trapped in ice, and the desperate, freezing and starvingsurvivors resorted to cannibalism. A small contingent of the expedition (without Franklin) mayhave reached Simpson Strait, the final part of the Northwest Passage. Scottish explorer John Rae determined that Franklin and his expedition had died of starvation and exposure in the Arctic;Eskimos at Pelly Bay told Rae of Franklin's fate. Lead poisoning from poorly-canned food mayhave also hastened their death.

For more information on Franklin, click here.

HENSON, MATTHEW A. Matthew Alexander Henson (Aug.

8, 1866 - March 9, 1955) was anAmerican explorer and one of thefirst people to visit the North Pole.He was on most of Robert E. Peary's expeditions, including the 1909 tripto the North Pole.

For more information on Henson,click here.

Go to a cloze activity on Henson.



HUDSON, HENRY Henry Hudson (1565-1611) was anEnglish explorer and navigator whoexplored parts of the Arctic Ocean andnortheastern North America. The Hudson

River, Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bayare named for Hudson.

For more information on Hudson, click here.

MACKENZIE, ALEXANDER Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1755?-1820) was a Scottish-born fur trader and explorer who chartedthe Mackenzie River in Canada and also traveled to the Pacific Ocean. Mackenzie emigrated toCanada in 1779. From 1788 to 1796 , he commanded the trading post Fort Chipewyan, on LakeAthabasca in Alberta. In 1789, Mackenzie went on an expedition to chart the 1,100-mileMackenzie River, travelling from the Great Slave Lake to the mouth of the Mackenzie in theArctic Ocean, using Peter Pond's incorrect prediction that a river led from that lake to the PacificOcean. In 1793, on his second expedition, Mackenzie went from Ft. Chipewyan across theRocky Mountains to the Pacific coast in is now British Columbia, going via the Peace, Parsnip,McGregor and Fraser Rivers and overland. He was the first European to cross the NorthAmerican continent north of Mexico (and he did this twice). Mackenzie later retired to his native

Scotland. Mackenzie wrote "Voyage from Montreal on the River St. Lawrence, Through theContinent of North America, to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans, in the Years 1789 and 1793,"which was published in 1801.

PEARY, ROBERT E. Robert Edwin Peary (May 6, 1856 -Feb. 20, 1920) was an Americanexplorer and Naval officer who ledthe first expedition to the North Pole.In 1909, Peary, Matthew A. Henson,and four Eskimos were the first people to reach the North Pole.

For more information on Peary, click here.



RAE, JOHN John Rae (1813-1893) was a Scottish explorer, surveyor, and surgeon whoexplored the Canadian Arctic. Rae made three voyages, in 1848-1849, 1851,and 1853-1854, to find the Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin, who haddisappeared together with his Arctic expedition. Rae surveyed and mapped

over 1,400 miles (2255 km) of uncharted Canadian coastline. He also showedthat King William Land was an island. On his third journey, Rae determinedthat Franklin and his expedition had died of starvation and exposure in the

Arctic; Eskimos at Pelly Bay told Rae of Franklin's fate. During his Arctic expeditions, thehearty Rae walked over 23,000 miles (37000 km).

ROSS, JAMES CLARK Sir James Clark Ross (1800 -1862) was a British explorer and naval officer who went onmissions to both the Arctic andthe continent of Antarctica,doing magnetic surveys.

The Arctic: Ross went onArctic expeditions with Sir William E. Parryfrom 1819 to 1827. Ross and his uncle, Sir JohnRoss, located the north magnetic pole on BoothiaPeninsula (in northern Canada, north of KingWilliam Island) on May 31, - June 1, 1831.

Antarctica: James Ross led an Antarcticexpedition (1839-43), commanding the "Erebus"while his friend Francis Crozier commanded the"Terror." Ross charted much of the coastline andin 1841 discovered the Ross Sea, and the Victoria Barrier, which was later renamed the Ross IceShelf.

For a page on James Clark Ross, click here.

STEFANSSON, VILHJALMUR Vilhjalmur Stefansson (November 3, 1879 - August 26, 1962) was a Canadian explorer (born of Icelandic parents) who explored the Canadian Arctic and lived among the Inuits (Eskimos) for many years.

For more information on Stefansson, click here.

Explorers of Australia and Nearby Islands More information on Australia



BAUDIN, NICHOLAS Nicholas Baudin (1754-1803) was a French Naval Officer who mapped the island of Tasmaniaand explored much of the coastline of Australia (including Geographe Bay, Guichen Bay (1802),Fleurieu Peninsula (1802), Murat Bay, and Shark Bay and the Gulf of Carpentaria) from 1800until 1803. He sailed in the ship called "La Geographe" (meaning geography in French) and did

many scientific explorations of other Southern Hemisphere areas, including the island of Timor.His expedition mapped coastlines, collected scientific specimens, and made drawings of theareas. In April, 1802, Baudin met the Australian explorer Matthew Flinders in southernAustralia. He died on the way home to France on the island on Mauritius in 1803.

BURKE AND WILLS Robert O'Hara Burke (1820-1861) and WilliamJohn Wills (1834-1861) were Australian explorerswho were the first Europeans to cross Australiafrom south to north. They both died on the returntrip, from exhaustion and hunger.

Burke and Wills were inexperienced explorers;Burke was a police investigator and Wills was asurveyor and meteorologist. They were chosen tolead the expedition across the inhospitable interior of Australia so that the state of Victoria could winthe reward posted by the government of Australiafor finding a north-south route. The governmentwanted to build a telegraph line from Adelaide to the northern coast of Australia.

For more information, click here.




Cook's last expedition (1776-1779) was a search for a Northwest Passage across North Americato Asia. Cook was killed by a mob on Feb. 14, 1779, on the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). At thetime, he was trying to take the local chief hostage to get the natives to return a sailboat they had



stolen.



CUNNINGHAM, ALLAN Allan Cunningham (1791 - 1839) was an English explorer and botanicalcollector. Cunningham's explorations included Brazil (from 1814 to 1816),eastern Australia (1816 - 1839), and New Zealand (1826) .

For more information on Cunningham, click here.

DAMPIER, WILLIAM William Dampier (1651 or 1652-1715) was a British buccaneer (pirate),explorer and map-maker. As a teenager, he sailed to the Caribbean and theGulf of Mexico. Dampier sailed to Australia, New Guinea, southeast Asia, andthe South Seas, charting the coastlines, rivers, and currents for the BritishAdmiralty (1699-1700). He also kept a detailed journal, noting native cultures,the first noted typhoon, and other discoveries made during his voyages. Hediscovered and named New Britain (near New Guinuea). His book, A New

Voyage Round the World , was published in 1697, and quickly became very popular. Dampier died a pauper in March, 1715

EYRE, EDWARD JOHN Edward John Eyre (1815-1901) was an English-born Australianexplorer. With his aboriginal friend called Wylie, Eyre was the firstEuropean to walk across southern Australia from east to west (alongthe coast). This arduous trip took 4 1/2 months. They traveled fromAdelaide to Albany, across the Nullarbor Plain. The expedition had begun with many men and pack horses, but harsh conditions and lack of food and water forced most of the men and the horses to turn back.Eyre and Wiley survived by using sponges to collect the morning dew,and eating kangaroos. Previously, Eyre had been on many shorter expeditions searching for good sheep-grazing land in southern Australia. An expedition to the

center of Australia (from Adelaide) failed at Mt. Hopeless.



KENNEDY, EDMUND Edmund Kennedy (1818-1848) was an explorer andthe Assistant-Surveyor of New South Wales,Australia. Kennedy explored the interior of Queensland, Australia, including the Thomson River,

the Barcoo River, Cooper's Creek, and the Cape York Peninsula.

For more information on Kennedy, click here.

LA PEROUSE, JEAN-F

RANCOIS Jean-François de Galoup, Comte de La Pérouse(August 23, 1741-1788) was a French explorer and naval officer. La Perouse mapped the westcoast of North America in 1786, and visited theEaster Islands and Sandwich Islands (now calledHawaii). He was lost at sea while searching for the Solomon Islands (after reaching Australia'sBotany Bay).

For more information on La Perouse, click here.

MITCHELL, THOMAS L. Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell (1792- October 5, 1855) was an explorer, surveyor and author who led four surveying expeditions into southeastern Australia. Mitchell's expeditions surveyedwest of Sydney; he explored northern and western New South Wales, the Darling River system,and surrouding areas.

Mitchell was born in Craigend, Scotland. After serving in the British Army and surveying inSpain, he sailed to Sydney, Australia, in 1827. In Sydney, Mitchell was the deputy surveyor general (serving under John Oxley). He was knighted in 1839.

OXLEY, JOHN J.

John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley (1785? - 1828) was an explorer and surveyor whoexplored areas of eastern Australia and Tasmania; he also collected geological information.Oxley was the surveyor-general of New South Wales, Australia.

Oxley was born in England, and sailed to Australia in 1802 while in the British Navy. For years,he surveyed the coast of Australia, then in 1806 he commanded a ship to Van Diemen's Land(later called Tasmania).



After returning to England and being promoted to lieutenant, Oxley sailed to Australia (1808).He was granted 600 acres (240 hectares) of land in Sydney and was appointed surveyor-generalof New South Wales. He continued his surveys of Australia, including: the Lachlan River region(with George Evans, 1817), the Macquarie River (1818), Jervis Bay and Port Macquarie (1819),Moreton Bay and 50 miles (80 km) up the Brisbane River (1823).

PHILLIP, ARTHUR Captain Arthur Phillip (1738-1814) was aBritish Naval Officer who founded the first permanent European settlement in Australia.Phillip commanded the "Sirius," the flagship of the First Fleet (the eleven ships that carried thefirst European settlers from Portsmouth,England, to New South Wales, Australia). TheFirst Fleet was commissioned by ThomasTownsend, Viscount Sydney, and sailed for

Botany Bay on May 13, 1787. The First Fleetcarried 564 male and 192 female convicts, 450 crew members, 28 wives, and 30 children (half from the crew, half from the convicts). They sailed via Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), and by Tasmania. The Fleet anchored at Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia on January 26, 1788, and declared Australia a colony of Britain.Phillip was the Governor of New South Wales until 1792, when ill health forced him to returnedto England. Australia Day commemorates the arrival of Captain Phillip and the First Fleet atSydney Cove.

STRZELECKI, PAUL EDMUND DE Paul Edmund de Strzelecki (1797-1873) was a Polish nobleman, explorer, geologist and fossilcollector. He explored the Snowy Mountains of Australia (with James Macarthur), climbed andnamed Australia's highest mountain Mount Kosciuszko (to honor the Polish general ThaddeusKosciusko), and traveled through the Gippsland area of eastern Victoria. In the four yearsStrzelecki spent in New South Wales and Tasmania, he walked over 7000 miles. Strzelecki wrote"Physical Description of New South Wales. Accompanied by a Geological Map, Sections andDiagrams, and Figures of the Organic Remains" (London, 1845).

TASMAN, ABEL Abel Janszoon Tasman (1603-1659?) was a Dutch explorer who was the first European to sail toTasmania, New Zealand, Tonga, and the Fiji Islands. His first expedition (1642-1643) was toAustralasia, the Indian Ocean, and the South Pacific. His second expedition (1644) was toAustralia and the South Pacific.

Explorers of Canada More information on Canada



AMUNDSEN, ROALD Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) was a Norwegian polar explorer who was the first person to fly over the North Pole in a dirigible (May 11-13, 1926) and was the first person to reach the South Pole. Amundsen and his small expedition reached theSouth Pole on December 14, 1911, traveling by dog sled. Amundsen was also the

first person to sail around the world through the Northeast and Northwest passages, from the Atlantic to the Pacific (in 1905). He was the first person to



CABOT, JOHN John Cabot (1450-1499) was an Italian-bornEnglish explorer and navigator. In Italy, he isknown as Giovanni Caboto (which is hisoriginal name).

For more information on Cabot, click here.

CABOTO, GIOVANNI See John Cabot (above).

CADILLAC, ANTOINE DE Antonie Laumet de La Mothe de Cadillac ( March 5, 1658 - Oct. 15, 1730)

was a French explorer, soldier, and leader. Cadillac founded the city of Detroitin 1701 and was the governor of the Louisiana Territory from 1710 to 1716 or 1717.

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CARTIER, JACQUES Jacques Cartier (1491-1557)was a French explorer who ledthree expeditions to Canada,in 1534, 1535, and 1541. He

was looking for a route to thePacific through NorthAmerica (a NorthwestPassage) but did not find one.

Cartier paved the way for French exploration of North America.

Cartier sailed inland, going 1,000 miles up the St. Lawrence River. He also tried to start a



settlement in Quebec (in 1541), but it was abandoned after a terribly cold winter. Cartier namedCanada; "Kanata" means village or settlement in the Huron-Iroquois language. Cartier was givendirections by Huron-Iroquois Indians for the route to "kanata," a village near what is nowQuebec, but Cartier later named the entire region Canada.

CHAMPLAIN, SAMUEL DE Samuel de Champlain (1567?-1635) was aFrench explorer and navigator who mappedmuch of northeastern North America and starteda settlement in Quebec. Champlain alsodiscovered the lake later named for him (1609)and was important in establishing andadministering the French colonies in the NewWorld.

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CHARLEVOIX, PIERRE FRANÇOIS-XAVIER DE Pierre François-Xavier de Charlevoix (Oct. 29, 1682- Feb. 1, 1761) was a French Jesuit priest, explorer,and writer. His writings are some of the earliestwritten accounts of North America.

For more information on Charlevoix, click here.









CORTE REAL, GASPAR Gaspar Corte Real (1450?-1501?) was a Portugueseexplorer who sailed to Greenland in 1500, and perhaps also reached the coast of North America(Newfoundland). Gaspar was lost at sea about 1501,and his brother Manuel died trying to find him.

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DE FUCA, JUAN Juan de Fuca (15??-1601?) was a Greek navigator who sailed for Spain under a Spanish name; his original name was ApostolosValerianos. De Fuca sailed up the western coast of North Americafrom Mexico to Vancouver Island in 1592, looking for a passage from

the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. He was perhaps the firstEuropean to see this area. He sailed through the Strait of Juan de Fuca(which was named for him in 1725) and believed it to be the beginning of a route to the Atlantic Ocean (it is not). This straitconnects the Pacific Ocean to the Puget Sound and the Georgia Strait, between the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state, USA, andVancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. After sailing back toAcapulco, Mexico, de Fuca was not rewarded by Spain for his

journey, and his discovery of the strait was not entirely believed until Captain Vancouver retraced de Fuca's route 200 years later. After this journey, de Fuca returned to Greece.



DE LA SALLE, ROBERT René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687)was a French explorer. He was sent by King LouisXIV (14) to travel south from Canada and sail downthe Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. He was

the first European to travel the length of theMississippi River (1682). His mission was to exploreand establish fur-trade routes along the river. La Sallenamed the entire Mississippi basin Louisiana, in honor of the King, and claimed it for France on April 9,1682. He also explored Lake Michigan (1679), LakeHuron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. He tried to start asettlement in the southern Mississippi River Valley, but the venture ended in disaster.

For more information on La Salle, click here.

DRAKE, FRANCIS

Sir Francis Drake (1545-1596)was a British explorer, slave-trader, privateer (a pirateworking for a government) inthe service of England, mayor



ERIKSSON, LEIF Leif Ericsson (also spelled Eriksson) the Lucky(980?-1020?) was a Viking (Norse) explorer who was possibly the first European to sail to North America. Leif sailed north from thesouthern tip of Greenland, then went south

along the coast of Baffin Island down toLabrador, and then landed in what is now called Newfoundland (which he called Vinland).Ericsson sailed around the year 1000.

Ericsson was born in Iceland and was one of thesons of the explorer Eric the Red.



Ericsson was probably preceded to Vinland by the Icelandic explorer Bjarni Herjulfsson, whospotted the coast of North America in 985 or 986 when blown off course from Iceland toGreenland (but he did not go ashore). Hearing of Herjulfsson's discovery, Ericsson sailed for North America in the year 1000 with a crew of 35. He landed in what is probably southernBaffin Island (which he called Helluland, meaning the "land of the flat stone"). He then went on

the what is now Labrador (which he called Markland, meaning "forest land"). In 1001 theyreached Vinland (perhaps the southern tip of Newfoundland), where remains of an ancient Norsesettlement have been found). Ericsson and his crew returned to Green land in the spring of 1002.

Ericsson later inherited his father's position as leader of the Norse colony in Greenland.

FRANKLIN, JOHN Sir John Franklin (1786-1847) was an English explorer and Admiral who proved the existence of a Northwest Passage (a water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean throughCanada). In 1819 to 1822, Franklin surveyed part of the northwestern Canadian coast east of theCoppermine River. On a second expedition, from 1825 to 1827, Franklin explored the NorthAmerican coast from the mouth of the Mackenzie River, in northwestern Canada, westward toPoint Beechey (Alaska, USA).

In 1845, Franklin sailed from England with an expedition of 128 men to Canada in search of Northwest Passage. The ship became trapped in ice, and the desperate, freezing and starvingsurvivors resorted to cannibalism. A small contingent of the expedition (without Franklin) mayhave reached Simpson Strait, the final part of the Northwest Passage. Scottish explorer John Rae determined that Franklin and his expedition had died of starvation and exposure in the Arctic;Eskimos at Pelly Bay told Rae of Franklin's fate. Lead poisoning from poorly-canned food mayhave also hastened their death.


FRASER, SIMON Simon Fraser (1776-1862) was a fur trader and explorer. Fraser, his mother, and his siblings,British loyalists, emigrated from America to Canada after the American Revolution (in 1784). In1792, Fraser began working for the North West Company of Montreal, and was soon sent toLake Athabasca, Alberta. Fraser established Fort McLeod in 1805, Fort St. James and Fort Fraser in 1806, and Fort George in 1807. He explored the interior of British Columbia, trying to find atrade route to the Pacific Ocean for the North West Company. He followed what he thought wasthe Columbia River to its mouth at Musqueam, but it was not the Columbia, it was another unknown river. This river was later called the Fraser River (named by David Thompson).



FROBISHER, MARTIN Sir Martin Frobisher (1535?-1594) was an English privateer (a pirate licensed by the Britishgovernment), navigator, explorer, and naval officer.After years of sailing to northwestern Africa, and then

looting French ships in the English Channel,Frobisher sailed to northeastern North America tosearch for a Northwest Passage (a sea route acrossnorthern Canada from the Atlantic Ocean to thePacific Ocean, making the trip to Asia easier).

For more information on Frobisher, click here.

GILBERT, HUMPHREY Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1583) was anEnglish nobleman, Army officer, member of Parliament, and explorer.

Early in his career, Gilbert started Englishsettlements in Ireland (to try to stop the Irishrebellion) and, much later, sailed to NorthAmerica in search of a Northwest Passage (a searoute to Asia through North America). Hefounded an English settlement in Newfoundland.

For more infromation on Gilbert, click here.

HUDSON, HENRY Henry Hudson (1565-1611) was anEnglish explorer and navigator who sailedto northern North America four times. Hehad been hired by the Muscovy Companyto find a Northwest passage (a waterwaycutting through through northern NorthAmerica) that would take traders across

North America to Asia. After failing to find a waterwaythrough the far northern portion of North America on two

trips, he was hired by the Dutch East India Company to tryfarther south. On this trip, Hudson found what is now calledthe Hudson River. Hudson is credited with discovering thelocation which is now New York City (although daVerrazano had previously sailed by the area in 1524).Hudson sailed into New York's harbor on September 3, 1609 and noted what an excellent harbor it was. Hudson sailed up the river about 150 miles (240 km) and noted the abundance of richland, but realized that this was not a waterway to India. His reports resulted in many Dutch



settlements in the area. A 1610-1611 trip through the Hudson Strait and into Hudson Bay endedin a mutiny. Hudson died in 1611 after his crew mutinied and left Hudson, his son, and sevencrew members adfrift in a small, open boat in Hudson Bay. The Hudson River, Hudson Strait,and Hudson Bay are named for Hudson.

JOLIET, LOUIS Louis Joliet (1645-1700) was a Canadian explorer (born in Québec City) who explored theCanadian wilderness, including the Great Lakes area. He and Father Jacques Marquette foundthe Mississippi River in 1673; they were the first Caucasians to see the Mississippi River.Together, they travelled along Lake Michigan to Green Bay, canoed up the Fox River, and wentdownstream on the Wisconsin River to the Mississippi River. They travelled almost to the mouthof the Arkansas, and then stopped because they were warned of hostile Indians and Spanishexplorers. They returned via the Illinois River, then the Chicago River to Lake Michigan. Joliet's journal and his maps were lost when his canoe overturned on the rapids of the Montreal River.Marquette's diary is all that remains of their journey. Joliet expanded fur trade westward, didextensive mapping, and established a fort on Anticosti Island.

KELSEY, HENRY Henry Kelsey (1667-1724) was a British explorer of inland Canada. Also known as Boy Kelsey,he became the first inland explorer of the Hudson's Bay Company when he was seventeen yearsold (in 1684). On an expedition lasting from 1688 to 1690, Kelsey travelled to the ChurchillRiver region. During his second expedition (1690 - 1692), Kelsey was the first European to seethe Canadian prairies. Kelsey extended the trade routes of the Hudson's Bay Company's trade tothe Saskatchewan River by negotiating with various Indian tribes, including the Bree, the GrosVentres. Kelsey spoke Cree (and perhaps Assiniboin); he respected and enjoyed Indian culture.After his Canadian expeditions, Kelsey returned to his native England and remained with theHudson's Bay Company. The company kept his journeys secret for many years since they werecrucial to its trade. Kelsey's journal was re-discovered in 1926.

LA SALLE, ROBERT DE René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687)was a French explorer. He was sent by King LouisXIV (14) to travel south from Canada and sail downthe Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. He wasthe first European to travel the length of theMississippi River (1682). His mission was to exploreand establish fur-trade routes along the river. La Sallenamed the entire Mississippi basin Louisiana, in honor of the King, and claimed it for France on April 9,1682. He also explored Lake Michigan (1679), LakeHuron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. He tried to start asettlement in the southern Mississippi River Valley, but the venture ended in disaster.




LA VERENDRYE, PIERRE de Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de LaVérendrye (1685-1749) was a Canadiansoldier and explorer who traveled farther west than any previous European explorer

had; he traveled to Lake Winnipeg and thensouthwest, almost reaching the MissouriRiver. He was searching for a route acrossCanada from the Atlantic Ocean to thePacific Ocean. His father was the sieur deVarennes, the governor of Trois Rivières,Quebec, Canada.

For more information on La Vérendrye,click here.

MACKENZIE, ALEXANDER Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1755?-1820) was a Scottish-born fur trader and explorer who chartedthe Mackenzie River in Canada and also traveled to the Pacific Ocean. Mackenzie emigrated toCanada in 1779. From 1788 to 1796 , he commanded the trading post Fort Chipewyan, on LakeAthabasca in Alberta. In 1789, Mackenzie went on an expedition to chart the 1,100-mileMackenzie River, travelling from the Great Slave Lake to the mouth of the Mackenzie in theArctic Ocean, using Peter Pond's incorrect prediction that a river led from that lake to the PacificOcean. In 1793, on his second expedition, Mackenzie went from Ft. Chipewyan across theRocky Mountains to the Pacific coast in is now British Columbia, going via the Peace, Parsnip,McGregor and Fraser Rivers and overland. He was the first European to cross the NorthAmerican continent north of Mexico (and he did this twice). Mackenzie later retired to his nativeScotland. Mackenzie wrote "Voyage from Montreal on the River St. Lawrence, Through theContinent of North America, to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans, in the Years 1789 and 1793,"which was published in 1801.

MARQUETTE, FATHER JACQUES Father Jacques Marquette (1637-1675) was a French Jesuit priest and explorer. He sailed toQuebec in 1666 and in 1671 started a Chippewa mission at Chequamegon Bay (at the westernend of Lake Superior). Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette (and five others) found theMississippi River in 1673; they were the first Caucasians to see the Mississippi River. Theytravelled along Lake Michigan to Green Bay, canoed up the Fox River, and went downstream onthe Wisconsin River to the Mississippi River. They travelled almost to the mouth of theArkansas, and then stopped because they were warned of hostile indians and Spanish explorers.

They returned via the Illinois River, then the Chicago River to Lake Michigan. Marquette died of dysentery on his way to the Kaskaskian indians, to whom he had planned on preaching.



NICOLLET, JEAN Jean Nicollet [also spelled Nicolet] (1598 -1642) was a French explorer who was the firstEuropean to travel through the Great Lakes area,visiting Lake Michigan and what are now

Wisconsin and Illinois, possibly reaching theMississippi River. For many years, Nicolletlived among the Native Americans in what isnow the Ontario, Canada area.

For more information on Nicollet, click here.

RADISSON, PIERRE ESPRIT Pierre Esprit Radisson (1636-1710) was a French explorer and fur trader who settled in Canadain 1651. He and his brother-in-law, Médard Chouart de Groseillier, were the first Europeanexplorers to see what is now Minnesota. Radisson was instrumental in forming the Hudson's Bay

Company (an English fur trading monopoly which was founded in 1670). Radisson also trekkedto Hudson Bay (in 1668 and 1670). Radisson wrote about his treks through the North Americanwilderness and his capture by the Iroquois (1651-1653).

RAE, JOHN John Rae (1813-1893) was a Scottish explorer, surveyor, and surgeon whoexplored the Canadian Arctic. Rae made three voyages, in 1848-1849, 1851,and 1853-1854, to find the Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin, who haddisappeared together with his Arctic expedition. Rae surveyed and mappedover 1,400 miles (2255 km) of uncharted Canadian coastline. He also showedthat King William Land was an island. On his third journey, Rae determined

that Franklin and his expedition had died of starvation and exposure in theArctic; Eskimos at Pelly Bay told Rae of Franklin's fate. During his Arctic expeditions, thehearty Rae walked over 23,000 miles (37000 km).

STEFANSSON, VILHJALMUR Vilhjalmur Stefansson (November 3, 1879 - August 26, 1962) was a Canadian explorer (born of Icelandic parents) who explored the Canadian Arctic and lived among the Inuits (Eskimos) for many years.

For more information on Stefansson, click here.

THOMPSON, DAVID

David Thompson (1770-1857) was a Welsh explorer (born in London, England); Thompson'sfamily name was originally as Tomos. Thompson was also a mapmaker, surveyor, fur trader, and journal writer. . Thompson explored western North America, including what is now westernCanada and the western USA. Thompson was the first European to explore the entire length of Columbia River. Thompson's detailed maps of western North America were the first ones made,and were the basis of maps for years to come. Thompson began working as a clerk for theHudson's Bay Company in 1784. In 1796, Thompson explored Lake Athabasca. In 1797,Thompson joined and become a partner in the North West Company (a rival trapping company).



In 1797-1798, Thompson went on an expedition down the Missouri River; he discovered TurtleLake, one of the headwaters of the Mississippi River, in 1798. In 1807, Thompson crossed theRocky Mountains and built the first trading post on the Columbia River. From 1818 to 1826,Thomson surveyed the border between Canada and the USA.

VANCOUVER, GEORGE Captain George Vancouver (1758-1798) was an English explorer andnavigator who sailed to the northwest coast of North America. His two ships,"Discovery" and "Chatham," reached the Strait of Juan de Fuca (near what isnow the US-Canadian border) in May, 1792. He then sailed to Puget Sound(near what is now Seattle); Vancouver named Puget Sound (he named it for Lieutenant Peter Puget who was sailing under Captain Vancouver on the ship"Discovery"). Vancouver also named Mt. Rainier, Whidbey Island, and the

Hood Canal. The expedition then sailed north, discovering what is now called Vancouver Island,and then sailing around it. Vancouver Island and the city of Vancouver are named for him.Vancouver had previously served under Captain James Cook on his second and third voyagessailing around the world.

VERRAZZANO, GIOVANNI DAGiovanni da Verrazzano (1485-1528) was anItalian navigator who, in 1524, explored thenortheast coast of North America from CapeFear, North Carolina to Maine while searchingfor a Northwest passage to Asia. Verrazzanosailed for King François-premier (Francis I) of France. Verrazzano's brother, Girolamo daVerrazzano, was a mapmaker who accompanyedGiovanni on his voyage, and mapped the

voyage. Verrazzano left Madeira, Spain, on January 17, 1524, and landed at Cape Fear on March1. He first sailed south, then returned and sailed north, to New York, anchoring the narrows thatare now name for him. He sailed up to Maine and then on to NewFoundland, Canada, and back to Europe (landing in Dieppe, France on July 8). Verrazzano thought that North America was athin isthmus separating the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Verrazzano was killed and eaten byCarib indians in 1528. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge, a suspension bridge that spans New York Harbor, connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island (New York, USA), was named for Verrazzano.

Explorers and Conquistadors of Mexico

The Spanish began exploring, looting, and conquering Mexico and the Aztec Indians

who lived there in the 1500's.ANZA, JUAN BAUTISTA DE Captain Juan Bautista de Anza (1736-1788) was a Mexican-born trailblazer and explorer. He wasthe first person of European descent to establish an overland trail from Mexico to the northernPacific coast of California (then called New Albion). He found a corridor through the desolateSonoran Desert. His expeditions brought hundreds of settlers to California. He founded the citiesof Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose. De Anza was the commander of the presidio at



Tubac.

CABEZA DE VACA, ALVAR NUNEZ Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca [Cabeza de Vaca means "head of acow"] (1490?-1557?) was a Spanish explorer who sailed to NorthAmerica from Spain, leaving in 1527. He traveled from Florida toTexas on a raft, then walked from Texas to Mexico City. He alsoexplored the Paraguay River in South America. De Vaca and hisfellow travelers were the first Europeans to see the bison, or American buffalo.

For more information on Cabeza de Vaca, click here.

CABRILLO, JUAN RODRIGUEZ Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (? -1543) was a Spanish or Portuguese explorer (hisnationality is uncertain). Cabrillo was the first European explorer of theCalifornian coast. In 1542, he sailed from Acapulco to southern California,claiming California for King Charles I of Spain. Cabrillo named San Diego Bay

and Santa Barbara. He died on San Miguel Island (in the Santa BarbaraChannel) after a fight with Indians, from complications resulting from a brokenleg.

CERMENHO, SEBASTIAN Sebastian Meléndez Rodríguez Cermenho (also written Cermenon) was a Spanish navigator andexplorer (Cermenho was Portuguese by birth). Cermenho was directed by Cortés to explore theCalifornia coastline in 1595. With a crew of 70 men on the Manila (Philippines) Galleon SanAgustin in the service of Spain, Cermenho sailed from the Philippines to California. After running aground near Point Reyes (north of San Francisco), Cermenon named the nearby baySan Francisco (it is now called Drakes Bay). They built a smaller boat from the wreckage andsailed to Acapulco, Mexico, charting the coastline all the while.

COLUMBUS,CHRISTOPHER Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was an Italian explorer who sailed across the AtlanticOcean in 1492, hoping to find aroute to India (in order to trade

for spices). He made a total of four trips to theCaribbean and South America during the years1492-1504, sailing for King Ferdinand II and

Queen Isabella of Spain. On his first trip,Columbus led an expedition with three ships, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

For more information on Columbus, click here.

CORDOBA, FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ DE Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (? - 1524) was a Spanish explorer and slave trader whoexplored Mexico (1517) and Nicaragua (1524).



For more information on, Cordoba, click here.

CORONADO, FRANCISCO Francisco Vásquez de Coronado (1510-1554) was a Spanish ruler, explorer andconquistador. He was the first Europeanto explore North America's Southwest.

For more information on Coronado,click here.

CORTES, HERNAN Hernán Cortés (also spelled Cortez), Marqués Del ValleDe Oaxaca (1485-1547) was a Spanish adventurer andconquistador (he was also a failed law student) whooverthrew the Aztec empire and claimed Mexico for Spain (1519-21).

Cortes sailed with 11 ships from Cuba to the YucatanPeninsula to look for gold, silver, and other treasures.Hearing rumors of great riches, Cortés traveled inlandand "discovered" Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecempire. He then brutally killed the Aztec emperor Montezuma and conquered his Aztec Empire of Mexico, claiming all of Mexico for Spain in1521. Treasures from the Aztecs were brought to Spain, and Cortés was a hero in his homeland.Cortés was appointed governor of the colony of New Spain, but eventually fell out of favor withthe royals. He then returned to Spain where he died a few years later.

DE ANZA, JUAN BAUTISTA Captain Juan Bautista de Anza (1736-1788) was a Mexican-born trailblazer and explorer. He wasthe first person of European descent to establish an overland trail from Mexico to the northernPacific coast of California (then called New Albion). He found a corridor through the desolateSonoran Desert. His expeditions brought hundreds of settlers to California. He founded the cities

of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose. De Anza was the commander of the presidio atTubac.

DE NIZA, MARCOS Fray Marcos de Niza (1495 - March 25, 1558 ) was a Franciscan priest who is said to havetraveled to the fabled "Seven Golden Cities of Cibola" in what is now the western part of NewMexico.



De Niza was born in Savoy (now in France, but it was Italian then), and became a Franciscanfriar. He sailed to the Americas in 1531, and traveled to Peru, Guatemala, and Mexico. He freedsome Native American slaves at Culiacán, Mexico.

He and the Moorish slave Estevanico were sent from Mexico City to find Cibola by the ViceroyAntonio de Mendoza (March to August 1539). De Niza reported that he and Estevanico saw theextraordinarily rich "Seven Golden Cities of Cibola," but they were later found to be simple ZuniIndian pueblos. Estevanico was killed by Zuni Indians during this expedition. De Niza survivedand eventually was in charge of his Franciscan order (1541).

DE PORTOLA, GASPAR Gaspar de Portolá (1767-1784) was a Spanish soldier, leader, and explorer. Portolá wasappointed Governor of Las Californias from 1768-1770 and founded Monterey and San Diego(California). As governor, Portola was ordered to arrest and expel all Jesuits from their well-established colleges and 14 missions; many of these missions were given to the Franciscans. In1768, Portola volunteered to lead a large expedition of settlers, missionaries, and soldiers up theCalifornia coast to San Diego and Monterey (in California) in order to establish new Franciscanmissions; the expedition was planned by Jose de Galvez. Portolá's overland expedition began onJuly 14th, 1769, and included Father Junipero Serra and 63 other men. They reached LosAngeles on August 2, 1769, Santa Barbara on August 19, Santa Cruz on October 18, and the SanFrancisco Bay area on October 31 (they missed Monterey). They again failed to find Montereyon their return trip to San Diego (both by land and by sea), so Portolá, Father Serra, and otherstried another expedition, arriving at Monterey on May 24, 1770. In 1776, Portolá was chosengovernor of the city of Puebla; he served for eight years, until his death.

DE VACA, ALVAR NUNEZ CABEZA Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca [Cabeza de Vaca means "head of a

cow"] (1490?-1557?) was a Spanish explorer who sailed to NorthAmerica from Spain, leaving in 1527. He traveled from Florida toTexas on a raft, then walked from Texas to Mexico City. He alsoexplored the Paraguay River in South America. De Vaca and hisfellow travelers were the first Europeans to see the bison, or American buffalo.


DRAKE, FRANCIS Sir Francis Drake (1545-1596)was a British explorer, slave-trader, privateer (a pirateworking for a government) inthe service of England, mayor





ESTEVANICO Estevanico (pronounced es-tay-vahn-EE-co), also called Estevan,Esteban, Estebanico, Black Stephen, and Stephen the Moor (1500?-1539) was a Muslim slave from northern Africa (Azamor,Morocco) who was one of the early explorers of the SouthwesternUnited States.

For more information on Estevanico, click here.

GARCES, FRANCISCO Father Francisco Tomás Garcés, (April 12, 1738 - July 18, 1781) was a Spanish Franciscan priestwho was a missionary and explorer. Father Garces explored the southwestern part of NorthAmerica, including what is now Arizona, U.S., southern California, and the Gila and Colorado

rivers (including the western Grand Canyon). He visited Hopi and Havasupai Indians, learningmuch about the area.

From 1768 to 1776, Father Garces explored with Juan Bautista de Anza and alone with nativeguides. He and Juan Díaz died in a Yuman uprising in the area where the Colorado and Gilarivers meet; they were trying to find a route from Sonora, Mexico to California.

HUMBOLDT, ALEXANDER VON Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a Prussian naturalistand explorer who explored much of Central and South America.Humboldt and his friend, the French botanist Aime Bonpland, exploredthe coast of Venezuela, the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, and much of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico (1799-1805).

On their many expeditions, Humboldt and Bonpland collected plant,animal, and mineral specimens, studied electiricity, did extensivemapping of northern South America, climbed mountains, observedastronomical phenomena, and performed many scientific observations.

For more information on Humboldt, click here.



KINO, EUSEBIO Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, S. J., (Aug. 10, 1645 -March 15, 1711) was a Jesuit priest, missionary, explorer,map-maker, mathematician, and astronomer. Kino was amissionary who founded many missions and explored areas

in southwestern North America (Pimería Alta), includingareas in what are now northern Sonora (Mexico), southernCalifornia (USA) and southern Arizona (USA).

For more information on Kino, click here.

NARVAEZ, PANFILO DE Panfilo de Narvaez (1470?-1528) was a Spanishexplorer and soldier. He helped conquer Cuba in1511 and led a Spanish royal expedition to NorthAmerica (leaving Spain in 1527). He was born inValladolid, Spain and died on his expedition toFlorida.

De Narvaez was granted the land of Florida by theEmperor Charles V in 1526. He led an expeditionthere with 300 men, including Cabeza de Vaca.After surviving a hurricane near Cuba, hisexpedition landed on the west coast of Florida(near Tampa Bay) in April, 1528, claiming the land for Spain.

For more information on de Narvaez, click here.

PEREZ, JUAN Juan Perez (1725?-1775) was a Spanish navigator who explored the northwest coast of NorthAmerica. He sailed from Port San Blas, Mexico, up the coast of North America in 1774, in a shipnamed the Santiago. He had been ordered to sail as far north as Alaska (60 degrees northlatitude), but only made it to what is now British Columbia, because of bad weather. Heanchored his 82-foot ship off the Queen Charlotte Islands, by northern Vancouver Island. On twooccasions, Native Americans canoed to Perez's ship to trade and invite Perez ashore. Perez never went ashore and so wasn't able to claim the land for Spain. He made detailed reports of theshoreline and his reports prompted later expeditions.



PIKE, ZEBULONM. Zebulon MontgomeryPike (January 5, 1779 -April 27, 1813) was an

American explorer andmilitary officer (heserved in the War of 1812). Pike tried to findthe source of theMississippi River; healso explored the Rocky

Mountains and southwestern North America. Pike's Peak in Colorado is named for him.

For more information on Pike, click here.

PINZON, VINCENTE Vincente Yáñez Pinzon (1460? - 1523?) was a Spanish explorer andnavigator who sailed with Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to the New World, as captain of the Niña. His older brother, Martin Pinzon, wascaptain of the Pinta and the co-owner of both the Nina and the Pinta.

In 1499, Vincente Pinzon sailed to the Brazilian coast (at a cape he namedSanta María de la Consolación). From there, he sailed northwest to theAmazon River, whose mouth he explored. He sailed north to northeastern

Venezuela (to the Gulf of Paria) and then returned to Spain.

In 1508, he sailed to the New World twice with Juan Díaz de Solís, trying to find a a passage tothe Spice Islands. They sailed to Central America, but the exact locations of these explorationsare unknown (they either sailed to Honduras and the Yucatán peninsula or to Venezuela andBrazil).

PORTOLA, GASPAR DE Gaspar de Portolá (1767-1784) was a Spanish soldier, leader, and explorer. Portolá wasappointed Governor of Las Californias from 1768-1770 and founded Monterey and San Diego(California). As governor, Portola was ordered to arrest and expel all Jesuits from their well-established colleges and 14 missions; many of these missions were given to the Franciscans. In1768, Portola volunteered to lead a large expedition of settlers, missionaries, and soldiers up theCalifornia coast to San Diego and Monterey (in California) in order to establish new Franciscan

missions; the expedition was planned by Jose de Galvez. Portolá's overland expedition began onJuly 14th, 1769, and included Father Junipero Serra and 63 other men. They reached LosAngeles on August 2, 1769, Santa Barbara on August 19, Santa Cruz on October 18, and the SanFrancisco Bay area on October 31 (they missed Monterey). They again failed to find Montereyon their return trip to San Diego (both by land and by sea), so Portolá, Father Serra, and otherstried another expedition, arriving at Monterey on May 24, 1770. In 1776, Portolá was chosengovernor of the city of Puebla; he served for eight years, until his death .



SERRA, JUNIPERO Father Junipero Serra (1713-1784) was a Spanish Franciscan priest who traveled to Mexico in1749 to do missionary work and perform other church functions.

In 1767, Serra went north from Mexico to what is now California and continued his missionary

work, converting native Americans zealously (sometimes forcibly). He founded many missionsin California, including the Mission of San Diego (founded in 1769) and 8 other missions, whichwere often built by the forced labor of Indians who were rounded up by Spanish soldiers. Thedeath rate of Native Americans at Serra's missions was tremendously high; many more died thanwere baptized. Serra also helped an expedition in locating San Francisco.

Father Serra was well-known for his acts of mortification of the flesh; he wore heavy hair shirtswith sharp wires that rubbed against his skin, he whipped himself, and he burned himself withcandles. Although the Catholic church bestowed sainthood on Serra in 1988 for his missionarywork, his cruelty and the tremendously negative effect he had on Native Americans have madehim a very controversial saint to many people.

VACA, ALVAR NUNEZ CABEZA DE Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca [Cabeza de Vaca means "head of acow"] (1490?-1557?) was a Spanish explorer who sailed to NorthAmerica from Spain, leaving in 1527. He traveled from Florida toTexas on a raft, then walked from Texas to Mexico City. He alsoexplored the Paraguay River in South America. De Vaca and hisfellow travelers were the first Europeans to see the bison, or American buffalo.


VIZCAÍNO, SEBASTIÁN

Sebastián Vizcaíno (1550?-1628?) was a Spanish nobleman, explorer and merchant. In 1602,Vizcaino sailed up te coast of California in three ships at the request of King Phillip II of Spain.Vizcaino named Monterey Bay (named for the viceroy Conde de Monterey who sponsored thisvoyage) and San Diego (Vizcaino arrived there on the feast day of San Diego de Alcala, November 12). One ship sailed as far north as Oregon. Vizcaino also named San Clemente,Catalina, Santa Barbara, Point Concepcion, Carmel, Monterey, La Paz, and Ano Nuevo. Most of the crew died from scurvy (a lack of vitamin C). Although Cabrillo had already named many of these place, Vizcaino published well-read accounts of his voyages, and his names were used.Vizcaino's earlier attempt, in 1596, to colonize southern California failed; it was 150 years before other Europeans came to California. Vizcaíno travelled to Japan in 1610, meeting with theretired shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in Sumpu (now Shizuoka); Vizcaino returned to Mexico with a

mission led by Hasekura Tsunenaga, who both hoped to open trade between Mexico/Spain andJapan (but the mission failed after the expelled Japanese Christian priests from Japan, angeringthe Spanish). Sebastián Vizcaíno Bay, a bay of the Pacific Ocean, in the western Baja California peninsula, Mexico, is named for Vizcaino.



VON HUMBOLDT, ALEXANDER Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a Prussian naturalistand explorer who explored much of Central and South America.Humboldt and his friend, the French botanist Aime Bonpland, exploredthe coast of Venezuela, the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, and much of

Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico (1799-1805).



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Explorers of North and Central America



AMUNDSEN, ROALD Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) was a Norwegian polar explorer who was the first person to fly over the North Pole in a dirigible (May 11-13, 1926) and was the first person to reach the South Pole. Amundsen and his small expedition reached theSouth Pole on December 14, 1911, traveling by dog sled. Amundsen was also the

first person to sail around the world through the Northeast and Northwest passages, from the Atlantic to the Pacific (in 1905). He was the first person to



ANZA, JUAN BAUTISTA DE Captain Juan Bautista de Anza (1736-1788) was a Mexican-born trailblazer and explorer. He wasthe first person of European descent to establish an overland trail from Mexico to the northernPacific coast of California (then called New Albion). He found a corridor through the desolateSonoran Desert. His expeditions brought hundreds of settlers to California. He founded the citiesof Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose. De Anza was the commander of the presidio atTubac.

AVILES, PEDRO MENENDEZ DE Captain Pedro Menendez de Aviles (Feb. 15, 1519-Sept. 17, 1574)was a brutal Spanish sailor, soldier, explorer, and conquistador.The King of Spain sent Aviles to Florida in the New World, tostart a Spanish settlement (St. Augustine, in northeastern Florida),and to decimate a nearby French settlement (Fort Caroline).

For more information on De Aviles, click here.

AYLLON, LUCAS VAZQUEZ DE Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón (1475-1526) was a Spanish conquistador andexplorer who tried to start a colony in North America in 1526. He was the firstEuropean colonizer of what is now South Carolina. His attempt to settle thecoast of the Carolinas (near the mouth of the Peedee River at Winyah Bay)

was unsuccessful.For more information on De Ayllon, click here.

BERING, VITUS J. Vitus Jonassen Bering (1681-1741) was a Danish explorer and navigator who explored the seasoff Alaska and northeastern Siberia. Bering was a sublieutenant in the fleet of Tsar Peter I theGreat of Russia.



From 1725-1730, Bering led an expedition to determine whether or not Asia and North Americawere connected by a land bridge. Bering sailed through what is now known as the Bering Strait,finding a sea route around Siberia to China. He concluded that Asia and North America were notconnected (although he did not actually see North America due to fog).

On a second expedition (the Great Nordic Expedition) in 1741, Bering mapped much of theArctic coast of Siberia for the Russian Empress Anna. Bering reached North America in July1741. After being blown off course and having both a crew and captain affected by scurvy (alack of vitamin C), Bering's ship was wrecked on a small island near Kamchatka, Russia. Beringand his crew spent winter of 1741 on this bare bit of land, where Bering and half his crew died.This island is now called Bering Island. The remaining crew (which included the Germannaturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller) survived by eating Steller's seacows (which were given their name because they tasted like beef) and by building a boat from the wrecked ship. Only 27 yearsafter being discovered, Steller's sea cows were hunted to extinction.

BOONE, DANIEL Colonel Daniel Boone (1734-1820) was an American pioneer, soldier, andexplorer; he was born near Reading, Pennsylvania. Boone founded the first USsettlement west of the Appalachian mountains.

A frontiersman and folk hero, Boone explored the Kentucky wilderness from 1769to 1782. He traveled down the Ohio River, and trapped furs in the Green andCumberland Valleys.

For more information on Boone, click here.

CABEZA DE VACA, ALVAR NUNEZ

Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca [Cabeza de Vaca means "head of acow"] (1490?-1557?) was a Spanish explorer who sailed to NorthAmerica from Spain, leaving in 1527. He traveled from Florida toTexas on a raft, then walked from Texas to Mexico City. He alsoexplored the Paraguay River in South America. De Vaca and hisfellow travelers were the first Europeans to see the bison, or American buffalo.


CABOT, JOHN John Cabot (1450-1499) was an Italian-bornEnglish explorer and navigator. In Italy, he isknown as Giovanni Caboto (which is hisoriginal name).

For more information on Cabot, click here.



CABOTO, GIOVANNI See John Cabot (above).

CABRILLO, JUAN RODRIGUEZ Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (? -1543) was a Spanish or Portuguese explorer (his

nationality is uncertain). Cabrillo was the first European explorer of theCalifornian coast. In 1542, he sailed from Acapulco to southern California,claiming California for King Charles I of Spain. Cabrillo named San Diego Bayand Santa Barbara. He died on San Miguel Island (in the Santa BarbaraChannel) after a fight with Indians, from complications resulting from a brokenleg.

CADILLAC, ANTOINE DE Antonie Laumet de La Mothe de Cadillac ( March 5, 1658 - Oct. 15, 1730)was a French explorer, soldier, and leader. Cadillac founded the city of Detroitin 1701 and was the governor of the Louisiana Territory from 1710 to 1716 or 1717.

For more information on Cadillac, click here

CARSON, KIT Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson (Dec. 24, 1809 - May 23, 1868) was anAmerican explorer, guide, fur trapper, Indian agent, rancher, and soldier,who traveled through the southwestern and western USA.

For more information on Kit Carson, click here.

CARTIER, JACQUES Jacques Cartier (1491-1557)was a French explorer who ledthree expeditions to Canada,in 1534, 1535, and 1541. Hewas looking for a route to thePacific through NorthAmerica (a NorthwestPassage) but did not find one.

Cartier paved the way for French exploration of

North America.

Cartier sailed inland, going 1,000 miles up the St. Lawrence River. He also tried to start asettlement in Quebec (in 1541), but it was abandoned after a terribly cold winter. Cartier namedCanada; "Kanata" means village or settlement in the Huron-Iroquois language. Cartier was givendirections by Huron-Iroquois Indians for the route to "kanata," a village near what is nowQuebec, but Cartier later named the entire region Canada.



CASTILLO, BERNAL DIAZ DEL Bernal Diaz del Castillo, also known as Bernal Diaz, (1492-1584) was a Spanish historian andsoldier who chronicled the Spanish conquest of Mexico. In 1514, he went to America as asoldier, with Pedrarias Dávila, the new governor of Darien. In 1517, he sailed to the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, with Francisco de Córdoba's expedition. He returned to Mexico in 1518

with Grijalva, and in 1519, with Hernando Cortés. This last expedition entailed over 100 battles,including the surrender of Mexico City (in 1521). As a reward for his service, he was appointedgovernor of Santiago de los Caballeros in Guatemala. Bernal Diaz del Castillo published"Verdadera Historia de la Conquista de Nueva España", (True History of the Conquest of NewSpain) in 1568.

CERMENHO, SEBASTIAN Sebastian Meléndez Rodríguez Cermenho (also written Cermenon) was a Spanish navigator andexplorer (Cermenho was Portuguese by birth). Cermenho was directed by Cortés to explore theCalifornia coastline in 1595. With a crew of 70 men on the Manila (Philippines) Galleon SanAgustin in the service of Spain, Cermenho sailed from the Philippines to California. After running aground near Point Reyes (north of San Francisco), Cermenon named the nearby baySan Francisco (it is now called Drakes Bay). They built a smaller boat from the wreckage andsailed to Acapulco, Mexico, charting the coastline all the while.

CHAMPLAIN, SAMUEL DE Samuel de Champlain (1567?-1635) was aFrench explorer and navigator who mappedmuch of northeastern North America and starteda settlement in Quebec. Champlain alsodiscovered the lake later named for him (1609)and was important in establishing andadministering the French colonies in the New

World.


CHARLEVOIX, PIERRE FRANÇOIS-XAVIER DE Pierre François-Xavier de Charlevoix (Oct. 29, 1682- Feb. 1, 1761) was a French Jesuit priest, explorer,and writer. His writings are some of the earliestwritten accounts of North America.




CLARK, WILLIAM William Clark (1770-1838) and Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) setout in May 1804 to explore and map the American West. They wereaccompanied by a crew of men, and later, the Shoshone Indianguide and interpreter Sacagawea and her infant son. They travelled

by river and by land from Missouri to the Oregon coast (FortClatsop), and back again. Their journey took 2 years, 4 months, and

10 days, and they travelled over 8,000 miles. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned theexpedition to explore the newly-bought Louisiana Territory.

COLUMBUS,CHRISTOPHER Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was an Italian explorer who sailed across the AtlanticOcean in 1492, hoping to find a

route to India (in order to tradefor spices). He made a total of four trips to theCaribbean and South America during the years1492-1504, sailing for King Ferdinand II andQueen Isabella of Spain. On his first trip,Columbus led an expedition with three ships, the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

For more information on Columbus, click here.

COOK, JAMES James Cook (October 27, 1728- February 14,1779) was a British explorer and astronomer

who went on many expeditions to the PacificOcean, Antarctic, Arctic, and around the world.




Cook was the first ship's captain to stop the disease scurvy (now known to be caused by a lack of vitamin C) among sailors by providing them with fresh fruits. Before this, scurvy had killed or



incapacitated many sailors on long trips.


CORDOBA, FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ DE Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (? - 1524) was a Spanish explorer and slave trader whoexplored Mexico (1517) and Nicaragua (1524).

For more information on, Cordoba, click here.

CORONADO, FRANCISCOVASQUEZ DE Francisco Vásquez de Coronado (1510-1554) was a Spanish ruler, explorer andconquistador. He was the first Europeanto explore North America's Southwest.

For more information on Coronado,click here.

CORTE REAL, GASPAR Gaspar Corte Real (1450?-1501?) was a Portugueseexplorer who sailed to Greenland in 1500, and perhaps also reached the coast of North America

(Newfoundland). Gaspar was lost at sea about 1501,and his brother Manuel died trying to find him.

For more information on Corte Real, click here.



CORTES, HERNAN Hernán Cortés (also spelled Cortez), Marqués Del ValleDe Oaxaca (1485-1547) was a Spanish adventurer andconquistador (he was also a failed law student) whooverthrew the Aztec empire and claimed Mexico for

Spain (1519-21).

Cortes sailed with 11 ships from Cuba to the YucatanPeninsula to look for gold, silver, and other treasures.Hearing rumors of great riches, Cortés traveled inlandand "discovered" Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecempire. He then brutally killed the Aztec emperor Montezuma and conquered his Aztec Empire of Mexico, claiming all of Mexico for Spain in1521. Treasures from the Aztecs were brought to Spain, and Cortés was a hero in his homeland.Cortés was appointed governor of the colony of New Spain, but eventually fell out of favor withthe royals. He then returned to Spain where he died a few years later.

DAMPIER, WILLIAM William Dampier (1651-1715) was a British buccaneer (pirate), explorer andmap-maker. As a teenager, he sailed to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.Dampier sailed to Australia, New Guinea, southeast Asia, and the South Seas,charting the coastlines, rivers, and currents for the British Admiralty (1699-1700). He also kept a detailed journal, noting native cultures, the first notedtyphoon, and other discoveries made during his voyages. He discovered andnamed New Britain. His book, A New Voyage Round the World , was

published in 1697, and became very popular.

DE ANZA, JUAN BAUTISTA

Captain Juan Bautista de Anza (1736-1788) was a Mexican-born trailblazer and explorer. He wasthe first person of European descent to establish an overland trail from Mexico to the northernPacific coast of California (then called New Albion). He found a corridor through the desolateSonoran Desert. His expeditions brought hundreds of settlers to California. He founded the citiesof Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose. De Anza was the commander of the presidio atTubac.

DE AVILES, PEDRO MENENDEZ Captain Pedro Menendez de Aviles (Feb. 15, 1519-Sept. 17, 1574)was a brutal Spanish sailor, soldier, explorer, and conquistador.The King of Spain sent Aviles to Florida in the New World, tostart a Spanish settlement (St. Augustine, in northeastern Florida),and to decimate a nearby French settlement (Fort Caroline).

For more information on De Aviles, click here.



DE AYLLON, LUCAS VAZQUEZ Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón (1475-1526) was a Spanish conquistador andexplorer who tried to start a colony in North America in 1526. He was the firstEuropean colonizer of what is now South Carolina. His attempt to settle thecoast of the Carolinas (near the mouth of the Peedee River at Winyah Bay)

was unsuccessful.

For more information on De Ayllon, click here.

DE CHAMPLAIN, SAMUEL Samuel de Champlain (1567?-1635) was aFrench explorer and navigator who mappedmuch of northeastern North America and starteda settlement in Quebec. Champlain alsodiscovered the lake later named for him (1609)and was important in establishing and

administering the French colonies in the NewWorld.


DE CHARLEVOIX, PIERRE FRANÇOIC-XAVIER Pierre François-Xavier de Charlevoix (Oct. 29, 1682- Feb. 1, 1761) was a French Jesuit priest, explorer,and writer. His writings are some of the earliestwritten accounts of North America.




DE FUCA, JUAN

Juan de Fuca (15??-1601?) was a Greek navigator who sailed for Spain under a Spanish name; his original name was ApostolosValerianos. De Fuca sailed up the western coast of North America

from Mexico to Vancouver Island in 1592, looking for a passage fromthe Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. He was perhaps the firstEuropean to see this area. He sailed through the Strait of Juan de Fuca(which was named for him in 1725) and believed it to be the beginning of a route to the Atlantic Ocean (it is not). This straitconnects the Pacific Ocean to the Puget Sound and the Georgia Strait,and is located between the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state,USA, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

After sailing back to Acapulco, Mexico, de Fuca was not rewarded bySpain for his journey, and his discovery of the strait was not entirely believed until Captain

Vancouver retraced de Fuca's route 200 years later.

DE LA SALLE, ROBERT René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687)was a French explorer. He was sent by King LouisXIV (14) to travel south from Canada and sail downthe Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. He wasthe first European to travel the length of theMississippi River (1682). His mission was to exploreand establish fur-trade routes along the river. La Sallenamed the entire Mississippi basin Louisiana, in honor of the King, and claimed it for France on April 9,1682. He also explored Lake Michigan (1679), LakeHuron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. He tried to start asettlement in the southern Mississippi River Valley, but the venture ended in disaster.




DE LEON, PONCE Juan Ponce de Leon (1460?-1521) was a Spanish explorer and soldier who was the first European to set foot inFlorida. He also established the oldest Europeansettlement in Puerto Rico and discovered the Gulf Stream

(a current in the Atlantic Ocean). Ponce de Leon wassearching for the legendary fountain of youth and other riches.

For more information on Ponce de Leon, click here.

DE NARVAEZ, PANFILO Panfilo de Narvaez (1470?-1528) was a Spanishexplorer and soldier. He helped conquer Cuba in

1511 and led a Spanish royal expedition to NorthAmerica (leaving Spain in 1527). He was born inValladolid, Spain and died on his expedition toFlorida.

De Narvaez was granted the land of Florida by theEmperor Charles V in 1526. He led an expeditionthere with 300 men, including Cabeza de Vaca.After surviving a hurricane near Cuba, hisexpedition landed on the west coast of Florida(near Tampa Bay) in April, 1528, claiming the land for Spain.

For more information on de Narvaez, click here.

DE NIZA, MARCOS Fray Marcos de Niza (1495 - March 25, 1558 ) was a Franciscan priest who is said to havetraveled to the fabled "Seven Golden Cities of Cibola" in what is now the western part of NewMexico.

De Niza was born in Savoy (now in France, but it was Italian then), and became a Franciscanfriar. He sailed to the Americas in 1531, and traveled to Peru, Guatemala, and Mexico. He freedsome Native American slaves at Culiacán, Mexico.

He and the Moorish slave Estevanico were sent from Mexico City to find Cibola by the ViceroyAntonio de Mendoza (March to August 1539). De Niza reported that he and Estevanico saw theextraordinarily rich "Seven Golden Cities of Cibola," but they were later found to be simple ZuniIndian pueblos. Estevanico was killed by Zuni Indians during this expedition. De Niza survivedand eventually was in charge of his Franciscan order (1541).

DE ONATE, JUAN



Juan de Oñate (1550?-1630) was a Spanish conquistador who established the colony of NewMexico for Spain. Oñate was married to a granddaughter of Hernán Cortés. In 1595, Oñaterequested that he be sent to conquer and rule New Mexico, search for treasure (especially thelegendary silver treasure of Quivira), and bring Christianity to the local Indians. After governmental approval, Oñate left for New Mexico in January 1598 with 400 settlers and

soldiers (and their livestock). In July 1598, the expedition crossed the Rio Grande at El Paso.They arrived at the Tewa pueblo of San Juan and were helped by the local Indians. Oñate's group built San Gabriel, New Mexico's first capital. After they realized that the area was not rich insilver, many settlers wanted to return to Mexico, but Oñate would not let them go, and executedmany of them. He was also incredibly brutal to the local Indians, killing, enslaving, andmutilating many Indian men, women, and children.

In 1601, Oñate unsuccessfully tried to find the legendary silver of Quivira (thought to be in whatis now central Kansas). While he was gone, most of his settlers returned to Mexico City. In 1604,he explored the area west toward the Colorado River and south to the Gulf of California. In1607, Spain removed him from office (Don Pedro de Peralta was appointed to be the new

governor); Oñate was later tried and found guilty of cruelty, immorality, mismanagement,dereliction of duties, and false reporting. He was exiled from the colony.

DE PINEDA, ALONSO ALVAREZ Alonso Alvarez de Pineda was a Spanishexplorer and map-maker. De Pineda sailed for the Spanish Governor of Jamaica, Francisco deGaray, who sent him to explore and chart theGulf Coast from Florida to Mexico in 1519.Captain De Pineda and his crew were probablythe first Europeans in Texas, claiming it for

Spain. One of the regions he explored andmapped was the area around Corpus ChristiBay; De Pineda entered Corpus Christi Bay onthe feast day of Corpus Christi, hence the name.

DE PORTOLA, GASPAR Gaspar de Portolá (1767-1784) was a Spanish soldier, leader, and explorer. Portolá wasappointed Governor of Las Californias from 1768-1770 and founded Monterey and San Diego(California). As governor, Portola was ordered to arrest and expel all Jesuits from their well-established colleges and 14 missions; many of these missions were given to the Franciscans. In

1768, Portola volunteered to lead a large expedition of settlers, missionaries, and soldiers up theCalifornia coast to San Diego and Monterey (in California) in order to establish new Franciscanmissions; the expedition was planned by Jose de Galvez. Portolá's overland expedition began onJuly 14th, 1769, and included Father Junipero Serra and 63 other men. They reached LosAngeles on August 2, 1769, Santa Barbara on August 19, Santa Cruz on October 18, and the SanFrancisco Bay area on October 31 (they missed Monterey). They again failed to find Montereyon their return trip to San Diego (both by land and by sea), so Portolá, Father Serra, and otherstried another expedition, arriving at Monterey on May 24, 1770. In 1776, Portolá was chosen



governor of the city of Puebla; he served for eight years, until his death.

DE SOTO, HERNANDO Hernando De Soto (1500?-1542) was a Spanish explorer who sailed the Atlantic Ocean and was the firstEuropean to explore Florida and the southeastern US.

For more information on De Soto, click here.

DE VACA, ALVAR NUNEZ CABEZA Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca [Cabeza de Vaca means "head of a

cow"] (1490?-1557?) was a Spanish explorer who sailed to NorthAmerica from Spain, leaving in 1527. He traveled from Florida toTexas on a raft, then walked from Texas to Mexico City. He alsoexplored the Paraguay River in South America. De Vaca and hisfellow travelers were the first Europeans to see the bison, or American buffalo.


DIAZ, BERNAL Bernal Diaz del Castillo, also known as Bernal Diaz, (1492-1584) was a Spanish historian andsoldier who chronicled the Spanish conquest of Mexico. In 1514, he went to America as asoldier, with Pedrarias Dávila, the new governor of Darien. In 1517, he sailed to the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, with Francisco de Córdoba's expedition. He returned to Mexico in 1518with Grijalva, and in 1519, with Hernando Cortés. This last expedition entailed over 100 battles,including the surrender of Mexico City (in 1521). As a reward for his service, he was appointedgovernor of Santiago de los Caballeros in Guatemala. Bernal Diaz del Castillo published"Verdadera Historia de la Conquista de Nueva España", (True History of the Conquest of NewSpain) in 1568.

DRAKE, FRANCIS Sir Francis Drake (1545-1596)was a British explorer, slave-trader, privateer (a pirate

working for a government) inthe service of England, mayor of Plymouth, England, and naval officer (he wasan Admiral). Drake led the second expedition tosail around the world in a voyage lasting from1577 to 1580 (Magellan led the first voyagearound the world).




DUBUQUE, JULIAN Julian Dubuque (or Du Buque) was a French miner who traveled through regions of the Upper Mississippi area of the USA. In 1786, Dubuque founded the city of Dubuque, Iowa, USA. After buying land from the Fox Indians, he started mining lead near what is now Dubuque. JulianDubuque was Iowa's first European settler.

DU SABLE, JEAN-BAPTISTE-POINT Jean-Baptiste-Point Du Sable (1750?-1818) was a Haitian-French pioneer and trader; he foundedthe settlement that would later become Chicago.

For more information on Jean Du Sable, click here.

ERIC THE RED Eric the Red (950?-1003 or 1004?) was a Vikingexplorer who was the first European to sail toGreenland. He sailed from Iceland in 982 and led agroup of colonists to Greenland in 985-986.

For more information on Eric the Red, click here.

ERIKSSON, LEIF

Leif Ericsson (also spelled Eriksson) the Lucky(980?-1020?) was a Viking (Norse) explorer who was possibly the first European to sail to North America. Leif sailed north from thesouthern tip of Greenland, then went southalong the coast of Baffin Island down toLabrador, and then landed in what is now called Newfoundland (which he called Vinland).Ericsson sailed around the year 1000.

Ericsson was born in Iceland and was one of the

sons of the explorer Eric the Red.

Ericsson was probably preceded to Vinland by the Icelandic explorer Bjarni Herjulfsson, whospotted the coast of North America in 985 or 986 when blown off course from Iceland toGreenland (but he did not go ashore). Hearing of Herjulfsson's discovery, Ericsson sailed for North America in the year 1000 with a crew of 35. He landed in what is probably southernBaffin Island (which he called Helluland, meaning the "land of the flat stone"). He then went onthe what is now Labrador (which he called Markland, meaning "forest land"). In 1001 they



reached Vinland (perhaps the southern tip of Newfoundland), where remains of an ancient Norsesettlement have been found). Ericsson and his crew returned to Green land in the spring of 1002.

Ericsson later inherited his father's position as leader of the Norse colony in Greenland.

ESTEVANICO Estevanico (pronounced es-tay-vahn-EE-co), also called Estevan,Esteban, Estebanico, Black Stephen, and Stephen the Moor (1500?-1539) was a Muslim slave from northern Africa (Azamor,Morocco) who was one of the early explorers of the SouthwesternUnited States.

For more information on Estevanico, click here.

FRANKLIN, JOHN Sir John Franklin (1786-1847) was an English explorer and Admiral who proved the existence of a Northwest Passage (a water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through

Canada). In 1819 to 1822, Franklin surveyed part of the northwestern Canadian coast east of theCoppermine River. On a second expedition, from 1825 to 1827, Franklin explored the NorthAmerican coast from the mouth of the Mackenzie River, in northwestern Canada, westward toPoint Beechey (Alaska, USA).

In 1845, Franklin sailed from England with an expedition of 128 men to Canada in search of Northwest Passage. The ship became trapped in ice, and the desperate, freezing and starvingsurvivors resorted to cannibalism. A small contingent of the expedition (without Franklin) mayhave reached Simpson Strait, the final part of the Northwest Passage. Scottish explorer John Rae determined that Franklin and his expedition had died of starvation and exposure in the Arctic;Eskimos at Pelly Bay told Rae of Franklin's fate. Lead poisoning from poorly-canned food may

have also hastened their death.


FROBISHER, MARTIN Sir Martin Frobisher (1535?-1594) was an English privateer (a pirate licensed by the Britishgovernment), navigator, explorer, and naval officer.After years of sailing to northwestern Africa, and thenlooting French ships in the English Channel,Frobisher sailed to northeastern North America tosearch for a Northwest Passage (a sea route acrossnorthern Canada from the Atlantic Ocean to thePacific Ocean, making the trip to Asia easier).

For more information on Frobisher, click here.

GARCES, FRANCISCO



Father Francisco Tomás Garcés, (April 12, 1738 - July 18, 1781) was a Spanish Franciscan priestwho was a missionary and explorer. Father Garces explored the southwestern part of NorthAmerica, including what is now Arizona, U.S., southern California, and the Gila and Coloradorivers (including the western Grand Canyon). He visited Hopi and Havasupai Indians, learningmuch about the area.

From 1768 to 1776, Father Garces explored with Juan Bautista de Anza and alone with nativeguides. He and Juan Díaz died in a Yuman uprising in the area where the Colorado and Gilarivers meet; they were trying to find a route from Sonora, Mexico to California.

GILBERT, HUMPHREY Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1583) was anEnglish nobleman, Army officer, member of Parliament, and explorer.

Early in his career, Gilbert started Englishsettlements in Ireland (to try to stop the Irishrebellion) and, much later, sailed to NorthAmerica in search of a Northwest Passage (a searoute to Asia through North America). Hefounded an English settlement in Newfoundland.

For more infromation on Gilbert, click here.

GRAY, ROBERT Robert Gray (1755-1806) was a American explorer who had previously been in the Navy duringthe Revolutionary War. Gray sailed from Boston, Massachusetts, in 1787, and traveled aroundSouth America to the northwest coast of North America and on to China, where he traded furs

for tea. He began his journey with Captain John Kendrick on a sister ship. Gray continued westand returned to Boston in 1790. Gray was the first American-born explorer in an American shipto circumnavigate the globe. In 1791, he led another expedition to the northwest coast on a shipcalled "Columbia." In 1792, Gray sighted, named, and sailed up the Columbia River in Oregon,and also explored Gray's Harbor in what is now the state of Washington. Because of Gray'sexploration, the United States now laid claim to the Oregon territory. Gray again continuedwestwards and circumnavigated the globe again, returning to Boston in 1793.

HAWKINS, JOHN Sir John Hawkins [also spelled Hawkyns] (1532- 1595) was an English naval officer, slavetrader, privateer, and cousin of Sir Francis Drake.

Hawkins sailed to Hispaniola (now Haiti) in 1562-1563 for a London syndicate of businessmenin order to trade Guinean (West African) slaves in the Spanish West Indies. Hawkins was thefirst English slave trader. He was hated by the Spanish, who did not want foreigners enteringtheir highly profitable slave-trading business. Queen Elizabeth backed a second and third slave-trading expedition (1564-1565).

During a third West Indies slave-trading trip with Drake, a need for repairs sent their six ships to



a harbor in San Juan de Ulua, near Veracruz, Mexico. The Spanish fleet then attacked theEnglish ships; only two ships survived (those commanded by Hawkins and Drake).

This attack led to a series of battles that later culminated in a war between the Spain andEngland. In this war, England crushed the Spanish Armada in 1588 and became the dominant

world power. Hawkins was third in command during this struggle. He invented the strategy of blockading the Spanish Armada at the Azores (islands in the Atlantic Ocean far off the coast of Spain) and stealing the treasures that the Spanish had stolen from the New World.

Hawkins died on Nov. 12, 1595, before an attack of Puerto Rico; he and Drake had sailed with27 ships to raid the Spanish West Indies.

HERIOLF Heriolf was one of the Viking settlers who who sailed with Eric the Red in A.D. 986 and settledin the new colony that Eric established in Greenland. Heriolf was among 400 to 500 settlers whotraveled with Eric the Red from Breidafjord, Iceland, in 14 ships to settle in southern Greenland.After doing well for a while, the settlement experienced unusually cold weather. What happenedto Heriolf after settling in Greenland is unknown.

HERJULFSSON, BJARNI Bjarni Herjulfsson was an Icelandic explorer who was possibly the first European to see thecontinent of North America, but he did not go ashore. In 985 or 986, he spotted Vinland (what isnow probably Nova Scotia) after being blown off course on a journey from Iceland to Greenland.Upon his return, he spoke of a hilly, forested land west of Greenland. Leif Ericsson probablyheard of Vinland from Herjulfsson, and roughly 14 years later, sailed there.

HUDSON, HENRY Henry Hudson (1565-1611) was anEnglish explorer and navigator whoexplored parts of the Arctic Ocean andnortheastern North America. The HudsonRiver, Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bay arenamed for Hudson.

For more information on Hudson, click here.



HUMBOLDT, ALEXANDER VON Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a Prussian naturalistand explorer who explored much of Central and South America.Humboldt and his friend, the French botanist Aime Bonpland, exploredthe coast of Venezuela, the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, and much of




JOLIET, LOUIS Louis Joliet (1645-1700) was a Canadian explorer (born in Québec City) who explored theCanadian wilderness, including the Great Lakes area. He and Father Jacques Marquette

Explorers of South America

BALBOA, VASCONUNEZ DE Vasco Nunez de Balboa(1475-1519) was aSpanish conquistador and explorer. He was the

first European to see theeastern part of the PacificOcean (in 1513), after crossing the Isthmus of

Panama overland.

For more information on Balboa, click here.

CABRAL, PEDRO ALVARES Pedro Álvares Cabral (1467-1520) was aPortuguese nobleman, explorer, and navigator

who discovered Brazil on April 22,1500. His patron was King Manuel I of Portugal, who senthim on an expedition to India. Cabral's 13 shipsleft on March 9, 1500, following the route of Vasco da Gama. On April 22,1500, he sightedland (Brazil), claiming it for Portugal andnaming it the "Island of the True Cross." KingManuel later renamed this land Holy Cross; it was later renamed Brazil, after a kind of dyewood



found there, called pau-brasil. Cabral stayed in Brazil for 10 days and then continued on his wayto India, in a trip fraught with shipwrecks (at the Cape of Good Hope), and fighting (withMuslim traders in India). After trading for spices in India, Cabral returned to Portugal on June23, 1501, with only four of the original 13 ships. After this journey, King Manuel appointedVasco da Gama to head the next expedition, and Cabral retired.







DE BALBOA,VASCO NUNEZ Vasco Nunez de Balboa(1475-1519) was aSpanish conquistador and explorer. He was thefirst European to see the

eastern part of the PacificOcean (in 1513), after crossing the Isthmus of

Panama overland.

For more information on Balboa, click here.

DIAS, BARTOLOMEU



Bartolomeu Dias (1457-1500) was a greatPortuguese navigator and explorer who exploredAfrica's coast. In 1488, Dias led the firstEuropean expedition to sail around Africa'sCape of Good Hope, leaving Tagus, Portugal in

1487. This breakthrough of circumnavigatingthe Cape of Good Hope opened up lucrativetrading routes from Europe to Asia. Dias mayhave originally called the southern tip of Africathe "Cape of Storms"; it was later renamed theCape of Good Hope. On a later expedition (in 1500, with Pedro Álvares Cabral), Dias sailed near South America on the way to Africa, and spotted land at Espírito Santo in Brazil, calling it the"Land of the True Cross." Although they thought it to be an island, Dias was still among the firstEuropeans to see Brazil. Dias died during this expedition; he was lost at sea near the Cape of Good Hope in 1500.

DRAKE, FRANCIS Sir Francis Drake (1545-1596)was a British explorer, slave-trader, privateer (a pirateworking for a government) inthe service of England, mayor



GRAY, ROBERT Robert Gray (1755-1806) was a American explorer who had previously been in the Navy duringthe Revolutionary War. Gray sailed from Boston, Massachusetts, in 1787, and traveled aroundSouth America to the northwest coast of North America and on to China, where he traded fursfor tea. He began his journey with Captain John Kendrick on a sister ship. Gray continued westand returned to Boston in 1790. Gray was the first American-born explorer in an American shipto circumnavigate the globe. In 1791, he led another expedition to the northwest coast on a shipcalled "Columbia." In 1792, Gray sighted, named, and sailed up the Columbia River in Oregon,

and also explored Gray's Harbor in what is now the state of Washington. Because of Gray'sexploration, the United States now laid claim to the Oregon territory. Gray again continuedwestwards and circumnavigated the globe again, returning to Boston in 1793.



HUMBOLDT, ALEXANDER VON Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a Prussian naturalistand explorer who explored much of Central and South America.Humboldt and his friend, the French botanist Aime Bonpland, exploredthe coast of Venezuela, the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, and much of




LA CONDAMINE, CHARLES MARIE de Charles Marie de la Condamine (1701-1774), was aFrench mathematician, explorer, and geographer. LaCondamine was sent to Ecuador in 1735 to measure theEarth at the equator. He also scientifically explored andmapped the Amazon region.

For more information on La Condamine, click here.

LA PEROUSE, JEAN-FRANCOIS Jean-François de Galoup, Comte de La Pérouse(August 23, 1741-1788) was a French explorer and naval officer. La Perouse mapped the westcoast of North America in 1786, and visited theEaster Islands and Sandwich Islands (now calledHawaii). He was lost at sea while searching for the Solomon Islands (after reaching Australia'sBotany Bay).

For more information on La Perouse, click here.



MAGELLAN, FERDINAND Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521)was a Portuguese explorer who ledthe first expedition that sailedaround the Earth (1519-1522).

Magellan also named the PacificOcean (the name means that it is a calm, peaceful ocean).

For more on Magellan, click here.

Go to a Magellan printout

PINZON, VINCENTE Vincente Yáñez Pinzon (1460? - 1523?) was a Spanish explorer andnavigator who sailed with Christopher Columbus on his first voyage to the New World, as captain of the Niña. His older brother, Martin Pinzon, wascaptain of the Pinta and the co-owner of both the Nina and the Pinta.

In 1499, Vincente Pinzon sailed to the Brazilian coast (at a cape he namedSanta María de la Consolación). From there, he sailed northwest to theAmazon River, whose mouth he explored. He sailed north to northeastern

Venezuela (to the Gulf of Paria) and then returned to Spain.

In 1508, he sailed to the New World twice with Juan Díaz de Solís, trying to find a a passage tothe Spice Islands. They sailed to Central America, but the exact locations of these explorationsare unknown (they either sailed to Honduras and the Yucatán peninsula or to Venezuela andBrazil).

PIZARRO, FRANCISCO Francisco Pizarro (1478-1541) was a Spanishconquistador who traveled through much of thePacific coast of America along Peru. He"discovered" the Incan empire and conquered it brutally and quickly, stealing immense hoards of gold, silver, and other treasures.

For more information on Pizarro, click here.



RALEIGH, WALTER Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) was a British explorer, poet, historian, andsoldier. Raleigh led expeditions to both North America and South America; hewas trying to found new settlements, find gold, and increase trade with the NewWorld. In 1585, Raleigh sent colonists to the east coast of North America;

Raleigh later named that area Virginia, in honour of Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen.He is often credited with bringing tobacco and potatoes from the New World to Britain, but theywere already known there. Raleigh was later executed by King James I for treason.

VANCOUVER, GEORGE Captain George Vancouver (1758-1798) was an English explorer andnavigator who sailed to the northwest coast of North America. His two ships,"Discovery" and "Chatham," reached the Strait of Juan de Fuca (near what isnow the US-Canadian border) in May, 1792. He then sailed to Puget Sound(near what is now Seattle); Vancouver named Puget Sound (he named it for Lieutenant Peter Puget who was sailing under Captain Vancouver on the ship"Discovery"). Vancouver also named Mt. Rainier, Whidbey Island, and the

Hood Canal. The expedition then sailed north, discovering what is now called Vancouver Island,and then sailing around it. Vancouver Island and the city of Vancouver are named for him.Vancouver had previously served under Captain James Cook on his second and third voyagessailing around the world.

VESPUCCI, AMERIGO Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) was an Italian explorer who was the first person torealize that the Americas were separate from the continent of Asia. America wasnamed for him in 1507, when the German mapmaker Martin Waldseemüller, printed the first map that used the name America for the New World.

On his first expedition (sailing for Spain, 1499-1500), Vespucci was the navigator under under the command of Alonso de Ojeda. On this trip, Ojeda and Vespucci discovered themouth of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers in South America, thinking it was part of Asia. On hissecond expedition (sailing for Portugal, 1501-02) he mapped some of the eastern coast of SouthAmerica, and came to realize that it not part of Asia, but a New World.

VON HUMBOLDT, ALEXANDER Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a Prussian naturalistand explorer who explored much of Central and South America.Humboldt and his friend, the French botanist Aime Bonpland, exploredthe coast of Venezuela, the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, and much of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico (1799-1805).



antarctic explorers

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