North American Explorers.
Christopher Columbus:
Nation: SpainDate: 1451 - 1506Accomplishment: He was sent to find a route to Asia by the king and queen of Spain, he made 4 main voyages to the Americas exploring the islands of the Caribbean, and the coasts of central and south America. He is known by the discovery of the New World.
Amerigo Vespucci:
Nation: ItalyDate: 1454 - 1512Accomplishment: America is named after him, he was a explorer and navigator of the New World. He was the first person to realize that the Americas were separate from the continent of Asia.
Juan Ponce de Leon:
Nation: SpainDate: 1460 - 1521Accomplishment: He traveled with Christopher Colombus on his second expedition and was the first European to set foot in Florida, he established the oldest European settlement in Puerto Rico, he was searching for the legendary fountain of youth.
Hernando Cortez:
Nation: Spain.Date: 1485 - 1547Accomplishment: He was the Spanish conqueror of Mexico and the Aztec Empire. He sailed from Cuba to the Yucatan Peninsula looking for gold, silver and other treasures. He killed the Aztec emperor Moctezuma and conquered Mexico for Spain.
Giovanni de Verrazzano:
Nation: ItalyDate: 1485 - 1528Accomplishment: He explored the northeast coast of North America from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Maine while he was searching for a Northwest passage to Asia. The Verrazzano Narrows Bridge was named after him.
Jacques Cartier:
Nation: FranceDate: 1491 - 1557Accomplishment: He was the first European to explore the St. Lawrence River, he reported an abundance of animals for trapping and fur trading, his explorations led France to claim large portions of Canada.
Hernando De Soto:
Nation: SpainDate: 1500 - 1542Accomplishment: He explored the island of Florida and the southeastern US, he was named governor of Cuba in 1537.
Francisco Vazquez de Coronado:
Nation: SpainDate: 1510 - 1554Accomplishment: He was the first European to explore the Southwest of North America in Arizona and New Mexico.
Samuel de Champlain:
Nation: FranceDate: 1567 - 1635Accomplishment: He is known as "The father of Canada", founder of Quebec City. He also discovered the lake that is now named after him.
Henry Hudson:
Nation: Great Britain.Date: 1565 - 1611Accomplishment: He was an English explorer and navigator that made two attempts to find a Northeast Passage to Cathay,China. He landed in North America and explored the land of New York. He discovered the Hudson River, the Hudson Strait and the Hudson Bay that are now named after him
Robert LaSalle:
Nation: FranceDate: 1643 - 1687Accomplishment: He was a trader and explorer that traveled to Canada from France. He named the region Louisiana (after the French King Louis XIV) and claimed the Mississippi Valley for France. He also explored Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
