Picture of Sir Francis Drake
 

Famous Explorers

  • Interesting Facts and information about Famous Explorers
  • List of names of the most Famous Explorers
  • List of Fast Facts and information about Famous Explorers accomplishments and achievements
  • The Major voyages of discovery and exploration of the Famous Explorers

Picture of Sir Francis Drake

Famous Explorers

Famous Explorers - List of the famous men who explored the World

Famous Explorers
There were many Famous Explorers during 1400 - 1600. What were the names of the most famous explorers? What were the major accomplishments and achievements of the famous explorers? This page provides a list of the names and lifespan dates of all the Famous Explorers and their accomplishments, achievements and voyages of discovery.

 
 
 

All the famous explorers mentioned in the list has a link providing details of timelines, biography, life, facts, history, pictures and information about these brave, famous explorers. 

Famous European Explorers
The famous European explorers came from England, Portugal, Spain, Italy and France. The voyages of discovery undertaken by these famous European explorers were motivated by:

  • Wealth - gold, silver and spices
  • Increased Power in Europe
 
  • Prestige
  • Increasing opportunities for trade
  • Spreading the Christian Religion
  • Building European Empires

Famous European explorers included Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco de Gama, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, Hernando Cortes, John Cabot and Samuel de Champlain.

Famous Canadian Explorers
The discovery of the New World opened up new colonies and settlements in Canada. One of the most famous of the Canadian explorers was Louis Joliet who explored the Great Lakes area and discovered the Mississippi River.

Famous Spanish Explorers

 
 

Famous Spanish Explorers and Conquistadors explored the Caribbean and South America. Just a few famous Spanish explorers conquered the millions who made up the nations of the Incas and the Aztecs. Famous Spanish explorers included Hernando Cortes, Francisco Pizarro, Hernando De Soto, Vasco Nunez de Balboa and Juan Ponce de Leon

Famous English Explorers
The famous English explorers were referred to as pirates and privateers by their enemies. The most famous English explorers embarked on their voyages of discovery during the Elizabethan reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The most famous English explorers included Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Martin Frobisher and Sir John Hawkins.

Famous Portuguese Explorers
The famous Portuguese explorers led the way when it came to exploration. The most famous Portuguese explorers included Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama, Bartholomeu Dias and Gaspar and Miguel Corte Real.

Famous French Explorers
The famous French explorers included Jacques Cartier, Jacques Marquette and Samuel de Champlain

The Who's Who List of Famous Explorers
There were so many Famous Explorers during the Renaissance period it was referred to as the Age of Exploration. The 'Who's Who List of Famous Explorers' provides a list of the Names of Famous Explorers together with the Nationality of Famous Explorers, Lifespan dates and details of their famous Voyages of Exploration. The following facts and information chart the voyages, explorations, major accomplishments and achievements in this list of the most famous explorers:

Who's Who List of Famous Explorers

Names of Famous Explorers
Nationality of Famous Explorers
Lifespan of Famous Explorers
Famous Voyage of Exploration
English
1540 - 1597
Circumnavigates the World
English
1552 - 1618
The  Discovery of Guiana and establishing the Virginia colony of Roanoke Island in 1584
Italian
1254 - 1324
Exploration of China and Asia
Portuguese
1480 - 1521
First voyage around the World by this famous explorer
Italian / Spanish
1451 - 1506
Discovery of the New World by this famous explorer
Spanish
1478 - 1541
Famous Explorer who conquered the Incas of Peru
Italian / Spanish
1454 - 1512
America was named after this famous explorer
Spanish
1475 - 1519
First famous European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean from its eastern shore
Portuguese
1469 - 1524
Discovery of an ocean route from Portugal to the East by this famous explorer
English
1539 - 1583
This famous explorer established St Johns, Newfoundland
Spanish
1460 - 1521
First European explorer to set foot in Florida
English
1542 - 1591
Voyages to Virginia and Roanoke Island and the Azores by this famous explorer
English
1532 - 1595
Voyages to West Africa and South America by this famous explorer
Spanish
1510 - 1554
First European to explore the Southwest of North America in Arizona and New Mexico
English
1535 - 1594
Voyages to Labrador and Greenland
Spanish
1500 - 1542
First European to explore Florida and South East America
English
1562 - 1622
Voyages to South America by this famous explorer
Spanish
1485 - 1547
Spanish conqueror of Mexico and the Aztec Empire
Portuguese
1457 - 1500
The first European explorer to lead a 1487 voyage around the Cape of Good Hope on the Southern most tip of South Africa
Portuguese
1467 - 1520
The first European explorer to see Brazil in 1500
Italian / French
1485 - 1528
Famous explorer from Italy who explored the NE coast of North America from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Maine
Portuguese
1450 - 1501
Exploration of Greenland and the coast of Newfoundland by this famous explorer
Italian / English
1450 - 1499
Exploring the coastline of Canada the subsequent colonization of Canada. Cabot was the second famous explorer to find North America (after Christopher Columbus)
Italian / English
1474 - 1557
Son of the famous explorer John Cabot. Searching for the Northwest passage across North America, attempting to circumnavigate the world and making expeditions to Russia
French
1491 - 1557
Led three expeditions of exploration to Canada by this famous explorer
English
1565 - 1611
The discovery of the  Hudson River by this famous explorer
French
1637 - 1675
Discovering the Mississippi River with famous Canadian explorer Louis Joliet
French
1567 - 1635
Famous explorer and founder of Quebec City. Known as 'The Father of Canada'
Portuguese
1467 - 1520
Famous Portuguese explorer was the first  to see Brazil in 1500
Spanish
1490 - 1557
The first European to explore Texas and Southwest America
North African
1500 - 1539
Exploring Texas and Southwest America and heralded as having been “the first black man in North America.”
Spanish
1470 - 1528
The exploration of Cuba leading an ill fated expedition to Florida and North America by this famous explorer
Italian / Spanish
1495 - 1558
Discovering the Pueblo tribe called the Zuni indians. Duped into believing the myth of the "Seven Golden Cities of Cibola"
Spanish
1494 - 1519
Believed to be the first European in Texas and proved that Florida was not an island
Spanish
1550 - 1630
Famous for establishing the colony of New Mexico for Spain
Spanish
1475 - 1526
Famous explorer and colonizer of South Carolina and discoverer of Chesapeake Bay
Spanish
1499 - 1543
First European explorer to navigate the coast of present day California in the United States
Canadian
1645 - 1700
Famous for exploring the Great Lakes area and discovering the Mississippi River

Names of Famous Explorers

Nationality of Famous Explorers

Lifespan of Famous Explorers

Famous Voyage of Exploration

Who's Who List of Famous Explorers

 

Famous Explorers

An interesting list of facts and information providing the names, key dates, achievements and accomplishments of Famous Explorers. Additional details of timelines, biography, life, key dates, facts, history and information about all of these famous Explorers from the great Age of Exploration can be accessed via the above links and the Elizabethan Era Sitemap.

Pictures of the Famous Elizabethan  Era  Explorers (1558 – 1603)

The pictures here represent the most famous explorers of the Elizabethan Era. All the pictures are copyright protected but may be used for non-comertial educational projects as long as they are not displayed online.

 
 

Sir Humphrey Gilbert 1539 - 1583

Sir Francis Drake 1540 - 1597

Sir Walter Raleigh 1552 - 1618

Sir Humphrey Gilbert 1539 - 1583

Sir Francis Drake 1540 - 1597

Sir Walter Raleigh 1552 - 1618

Sir Martin Frobisher 1535 - 1594

Sir Richard Grenville 1542 - 1591

Sir John Hawkins 1532 - 1595

Sir Martin Frobisher 1535 - 1594

Sir Richard Grenville 1542 - 1591

Sir John Hawkins 1532 - 1595

Juan Ponce de Leon 1460 - 1521

Sir Richard Hawkins 1562 - 1622

Henry Hudson 1565 - 1611

Juan Ponce de Leon 1460 - 1521

Sir Richard Hawkins 1562 - 1622

Henry Hudson 1565 - 1611

 

Famous Explorers

  • Interesting Facts, key dates and information about Famous Explorers
  • List of names of the most Famous Explorers
  • List of Fast Facts, dates and information about Famous Explorers accomplishments and achievements
  • The Major voyages of discovery and exploration of the Famous Explorers
  • Famous European Explorers - names and key dates
  • Famous Canadian Explorers - names and key dates
  • Famous Spanish Explorers - names and key dates
 
 

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Famous Explorers

 

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