Famous Explorers

Picture of Sir Francis Drake 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.

The Age of Exploration All the famous explorers mentioned in the list has a link
Elizabethan Era Index 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

Nationality of Lifespan of
Names of Famous
Famous Famous Famous Voyage of Exploration
Explorers
Explorers Explorers
Sir Francis Drake English 1540 - 1597 Circumnavigates the World
The Discovery of Guiana and establishing the
Sir Walter Raleigh English 1552 - 1618
Virginia colony of Roanoke Island in 1584
Marco Polo Italian 1254 - 1324 Exploration of China and Asia
First voyage around the World by this famous
Ferdinand Magellan Portuguese 1480 - 1521
explorer
 Italian / Discovery of the New World by this famous
Christopher Columbus 1451 - 1506
Spanish explorer
Francisco Pizarro Spanish 1478 - 1541 Famous Explorer who conquered the Incas of Peru
Italian /
Amerigo Vespucci 1454 - 1512 America was named after this famous explorer
Spanish
First famous European explorer to see the Pacific
Vasco Nunez de Balboa Spanish 1475 - 1519
Ocean from its eastern shore
Discovery of an ocean route from Portugal to the
Vasco da Gama Portuguese 1469 - 1524
East by this famous explorer
This famous explorer established St Johns,
Sir Humphrey Gilbert English 1539 - 1583
Newfoundland
Juan Ponce de Leon Spanish 1460 - 1521 First European explorer to set foot in Florida
Voyages to Virginia and Roanoke Island and the
Sir Richard Grenville English 1542 - 1591
Azores by this famous explorer
Voyages to West Africa and South America by this
Sir John Hawkins English 1532 - 1595
famous explorer
Francisco Vasquez de First European to explore the Southwest of North
Spanish 1510 - 1554
Coronado America in Arizona and New Mexico
Sir Martin Frobisher English 1535 - 1594 Voyages to Labrador and Greenland
First European to explore Florida and South East
Hernando De Soto Spanish 1500 - 1542
America
Sir Richard Hawkins English 1562 - 1622 Voyages to South America by this famous explorer
Hernando Cortes Spanish 1485 - 1547 Spanish conqueror of Mexico and the Aztec Empire
The first European explorer to lead a 1487 voyage
Bartolomeu Dias Portuguese 1457 - 1500 around the Cape of Good Hope on the Southern
most tip of South Africa
Pedro Alvares Cabral Portuguese 1467 - 1520 The first European explorer to see Brazil in 1500
Famous explorer from Italy who explored the NE
Giovanni da Verrazzano Italian / French 1485 - 1528 coast of North America from Cape Fear, North
Carolina to Maine
Exploration of Greenland and the coast of
Gaspar Corte Real Portuguese 1450 - 1501
Newfoundland by this famous explorer
Exploring the coastline of Canada the subsequent
Italian / colonization of Canada. Cabot was the second
John Cabot 1450 - 1499
English famous explorer to find North America (after
Christopher Columbus)
Son of the famous explorer John Cabot. Searching
Italian / for the Northwest passage across North America,
Sebastian Cabot 1474 - 1557
English attempting to circumnavigate the world and making
expeditions to Russia
Led three expeditions of exploration to Canada by
Jacques Cartier French 1491 - 1557
this famous explorer
The discovery of the Hudson River by this famous
Henry Hudson English 1565 - 1611
explorer
Discovering the Mississippi River with famous
Jacques Marquette French 1637 - 1675
Canadian explorer Louis Joliet
Famous explorer and founder of Quebec City.
Samuel de Champlain French 1567 - 1635
Known as 'The Father of Canada'
Famous Portuguese explorer was the first to see
Pedro Alvares Cabral Portuguese 1467 - 1520
Brazil in 1500
Cabeza de Vaca Spanish 1490 - 1557 The first European to explore Texas and Southwest
 America
Exploring Texas and Southwest America and
Estevanico North African 1500 - 1539 heralded as having been “the first black man in
North America.”
The exploration of Cuba leading an ill fated
Panfilo de Narvaez Spanish 1470 - 1528 expedition to Florida and North America by this
famous explorer
Discovering the Pueblo tribe called the Zuni
Italian /
Fray Marcos de Niza 1495 - 1558 indians. Duped into believing the myth of the
Spanish
"Seven Golden Cities of Cibola"
Believed to be the first European in Texas and
Alonso Alvarez de Pineda Spanish 1494 - 1519
proved that Florida was not an island
Famous for establishing the colony of New Mexico
Juan de Onate Spanish 1550 - 1630
for Spain
Famous explorer and colonizer of South Carolina
Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon Spanish 1475 - 1526
and discoverer of Chesapeake Bay
First European explorer to navigate the coast of
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Spanish 1499 - 1543
present day California in the United States
Famous for exploring the Great Lakes area and
Louis Joliet Canadian 1645 - 1700
discovering the Mississippi River
Nationality of Lifespan of
Names of Famous
Famous Famous Famous Voyage of Exploration
Explorers
Explorers Explorers
Who's Who List of Famous Explorers