famous explorers library

North America was a contested battleground, as explorers came to the New World. Here are the major North American explorers and their stories.

Featured Article: How Lewis and Clark Worked

Lewis and Clark's expedition changed the course of American history. Through their explorations, a new nation found its identity. See more »

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Articles 41-52 of 52

Samuel De Champlain

Champlain Samuel de (1567–1635), a French explorer and “Father of New France” (Canada).

Samuel Hearne

Hearne, Samuel (1745–1792), a Canadian explorer and trader. As an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company, Hearne became the first European to travel overland from Hudson Bay to the Arctic Ocean.

Sieur d'Iberville

Iberville, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d' (1661–1706), a French-Canadian naval officer and colonizer.

Sieur De Bienville

Bienville, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de (1680–1768), a French explorer prominent in the settlement of French Louisiana.

Sieur De La Verendrye

La Vérendrye, Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de(1685–1749), a Canadian explorer.

Sieur Duluth

Duluth (also Du Luth, Dulhut , or Du Lhut ), Daniel Greysolon, Sieur (1636–1710), a French explorer of North America.

Simon Fraser

Fraser, Simon (1776–1862), a Canadian explorer. Fraser was born near what is now Bennington, Vermont, and was taken to Canada as a child.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie

Mackenzie Sir Alexander (1764–1820), a Scottish-Canadian fur trader and explorer.

Sir Walter Raleigh

Raleigh (or Ralegh), Sir Walter (1552?–1618), an English soldier, seaman, politician, writer, and colonizer.

Stephen H. Long

Long, Stephen Harriman (1784–1864), a United States army engineer and explorer.

William Clark

Clark, William (1770–1838), a United States explorer. He was born in Caroline County, Virginia, and was a brother of George Rogers Clark.

Zebulon Pike

Pike, Zebulon Montgomery (1779–1813), a United States army officer explorer. Pike led an expedition to the south-western part of the newly purchased Louisiana Territory, 1806–07.