EXPLORERS from Belgium

Top 3

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Belgian Explorers of all time. This list of famous Belgian Explorers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.

1. Adrien de Gerlache (1866 - 1934)

With an HPI of 56.44, Adrien de Gerlache is the most famous Belgian Explorer.  His biography has been translated into 29 different languages on wikipedia.

Baron Adrien Victor Joseph de Gerlache de Gomery (French pronunciation: [adʁijɛ̃ viktɔʁ ʒozɛf də ʒɛʁlaʃ də ɡɔmʁi]; 2 August 1866 – 4 December 1934) was a Belgian officer in the Belgian Royal Navy who led the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–99.

2. James Weddell (1787 - 1834)

With an HPI of 55.46, James Weddell is the 2nd most famous Belgian Explorer.  His biography has been translated into 27 different languages.

James Weddell (24 August 1787 – 9 September 1834) was a British sailor, navigator and seal hunter who in February 1823 sailed to latitude of 74° 15′ S—a record 7.69 degrees or 532 statute miles south of the Antarctic Circle—and into a region of the Southern Ocean that later became known as the Weddell Sea.

3. Louis Hennepin (1626 - 1704)

With an HPI of 42.90, Louis Hennepin is the 3rd most famous Belgian Explorer.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Louis Hennepin, OFM (born Antoine Hennepin; French pronunciation: [lwi ɛnpɛ̃]; 12 May 1626 – 5 December 1704) was a Belgian Catholic priest and missionary best known for his activities in North America. A member of the Recollects, a minor branch of the Franciscans, he travelled to New France and proselytised to several Native American tribes.