-
Dec 5, 1450
John Cabot
John Cabot was born in 1450 near Naples, Italy. He is known as "The Great Admiral" for reaching Asia on his first voyage. His name in Italian was Giovanni Caboto. Cabot's son died with him during the unsuccessful voyage of 1498. -
Oct 5, 1451
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was born in 1451, Genoa, Italy. He was known for discovering America. The first time he sailed the sea he was only 14 years old and later had two sons named Diego and Ferdinand. -
Dec 5, 1491
Jacques Cartier
Jacques was born in 1491 and had a crew that made voyages on sea. It took him and his crew 20 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. He was also the first man to bring corn to Northern Europe. -
Dec 5, 1547
Hernando Cortes
Cortes is known for leading an expedition that discovered Baja California. Hernando took 600 men, 20 horses, and 10 small canons and conquered the Aztec empire of 5 million people. His death happened in 1547. -
Dec 5, 1550
Henry Hudson
Henry's birth date is unknown, but he was born somewhere between 1550-1575. He is known for sailing as far as present day North Carolina. He also explored Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay and had three sons. -
Dec 5, 1577
Sir Francis Drake
Drake was known for, starting from 1577 to 1580, sailing around the world. He later died in 1596 at sea where his body was placed in a casket and slipped overboard. -
James Cook
James was born in 1728 and was known as an accomplished mathematician, astronomer, mapmaker, surveyor and also a captain. He was very strict and made his men bathe every day and the food he gave his crew was most often salted prok and biscuits. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis was born in 1770 and Clark was born in 1774. Clark's job was gathering the men, and Lewis had to gather equipment. These two men were both born in August and in Virginia. When their expedition began, Jewis was 28 years old and Clark was 32. -
Daniel Boone
Boone is known for his role as a wilderness scout. In 1781 he served in the Virginia Assembly. Daniel didn't go school but was taught how to read by a family member and took his last unting trip when he was 83. -
John Wesley Powell
John was born in 1834 and known for developing the theory that the Grand Canyon was created by rivers that cut through it over a long time period. He had to cut school because his dad had slavery. Powell also sailed to mississippi river on a row boat.
