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Jan 1, 1000
Leif Ericson - 1000 A.D.
Viking (Norse) explorer who was possibly the first European to sail to North America. He sailed northwest and then southwest from Greenland to Newfoundland (which he called Vinland) around the year 1000. Ericson traveled to Newfoundland with a crew of 35 after hearing of Icelandic explorer Bjarni Herjulfsson's discovery of North America. Leif Ericson -
Jan 1, 1271
Marco Polo 1271 - 1295
Marco Polo was an Italian traveler and merchant who was one of the first Europeans to travel across Asia and through China. When he left home with his father and uncle, he was 17; he then spent 24 years traveling. The family traveled for merchanting reasons. Marco Polo -
Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot 1947-1948
Cabot was Italian born, but explored at the request of King Henry VII of England, where he moved two years prior. He sailed to Canada in 1497 and landed near Labrador, Newfoundland, or Cape Breton Island on June 24th 1497. Cabot claimed the land for England and named many of its islands and capes. Cabot originally set out to find a waterway to Asia from Europe, but was unsucessful (Canada is not Asia.) John Cabot -
Jan 1, 1534
Jacques Cartier, 1534 - 1541
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who led 3 expeditions to find a route across North America. He never found one, but his attempt led to the French exploration of North America. He sailed inland via the St. Laurence River and upon landing named the surrounding land Canada. Jacques Cartier -
Dec 13, 1577
Sir Francis Drake 1577-1580
Drake explored on behalf of Britan as a naval officer. He sailed around the world over a period of 3 years, leaving from Plymouth, England and sailing by Brazil, Panama, Mexico, and as far north as nothern California. On the return trip to England, he sailed through Panama, Indonesia, and the Indian Ocean. Francis Drake -
Walter Raleigh 1585
Walter Raleigh was a British explorer that lead expeditions to both North and South America (during which he tried to find new settlements and increase trade with the New World.) He sent colonists to the east coast of North America and named where they landed "Virginia" in honor of the Virgin Queen Elizabeth. During one expedition crew under his control raided a Spanish settlement; Raleigh was executed. Walter Raleigh -
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Chaplain was an explorer working for France. He sailed around and mapped most of Nova Scotia as well as starting a settlement in Quebec. After returning from a stay in England, Camplain came back to Quebec and served as its governer.
Samuel de Champlain -
Henry Hudson
Hudson was hired by the Muscovy Company in England with a mission to find a waterway from Europe to Asia (specifically China). He discovered and island north of Scandinavia (Spitzbergen) as well as a tiny island off eastern Greenland (Novaya Zemlya). He was then hired by the Dutch East Indian Company. After discovering New York, his crew mutinied and left him in a small boat in Hudson Bay. Henry Hudson -
James Cook August 26, 1768 - Feb. 14, 1779
James Cook went on three expeditions on behalf of Britan; during which he named several islands, and mapped eastern Austrailia as well as two major islands by New Zealand. He discovered antartica during his second expedition. During his last expedition he fought scurvy by providing fresh fruit to his crew and was then killed by a mob on what is now Hawaii while trying to retreive a stolen ship. James Cook -
George Vancouver, 1792
George Vancouver was an English explorer who sailed to the northwestern coast of North America. He discovered what is now Seattle, and named Mt. Rainer while he was there. After sailing north, he discovered what is now Vancouver Island and sailed around it. Both Vancouver Island and Vancouver (B.C. Canada) were named after him.
George Vancouver
