famous adventurers and explorers
Famous Adventurers and Explorers
Sir John Alcock - 1892-1919.
In 1919 Alcock with Sir Arthur Whitten Brown made the first non stop transatlantic flight. Their aircraft was a Vickers-Vimy Rolls Royce aeroplane, powered by two 360 horsepower engines. Knighthoods were subsequently granted to both men.
Alexander the Great- 356-323 BCE.
Alexander the great was a famous macedonian king and carried out a series of brilliant invasions, including those of asia minor and india, conquering the Thebans, persians and egyptians among others, and founded the great city of alexandria which bears his name, of course. He introduced greek culture into many parts of the world.
Captain Road Amundsen - 1872-1928.
Amundsen was a famous norwegian explorer of the polar regions, and was the first to sail through the north-west passage. In 1921 he succeeded in reaching the south pole a short time before Captain scott’s party of british explorers and adventurers. He died in the arctic while making an attempt to rescue a trapped expedition.
Attila the Hun - 406-453.
Attila the hun was a king of the huns. With his barbarian hordes, he made many devastating raids throughout Europe, laying waste many great cities. His defeat by the roman general Aetus prevented his advance through wester europe, and he died while planning an invasion of italy.
Lord Baden-Powell (1457-1941) founded the Boy Scout movement in 1908 and later the girl guides. He was an outstanding cavalry leader and won distinction at the defence of Mafeking.
Vasco Nunez de Balboa(1475-1517) was a spanish explorer and discoverer of the pacific. His first voyage was made as a stowaway, but eventually he became governor of darien and was named Admiral of the Pacific and governor of Panama and Coyba by King Ferdinand of Spain.
Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) was the first president of venezuala. He was repsosible for leading the revolt against spanish rule, and with great courage and tenacity drove the spaniards out and liberated the whole country. The state of bolivia was named in his honour.
Jacques Cartier (1494-1557) was a french navigator who made three voyages to north america in search of a north-west passage. In 1534 he tried to reach china via the gulf of saint lawrence and spent two years exploring canada, which he claimed in the name of france.
Lord Robert Clive(1725-1774) was the founder of british rule in india. At nineteen he went to india as a clerk in the east india company. In the war with the french in india Clive who had quit his desk for the army, displayed great resourcefulness and won several battles. After defeating the nabob suraj-ud-dowlah at the battle of plassey established british rule in calcutta. On his return to england with great wealth he was accused of corruption. Though cleared of the charge, his health failed and he committed suicide.
William Frederick Cody(1846-1917) was an american cowboy and showman. He is said to have earned his nickname of Buffalo Bill by killing five thousand buffaloes to feed workmen during the construction of the Kansaa Pacific Railway. He later travelled with his great Wild West show.