Explorers from France

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Frenchs Explorers of all time. This list of famous Frenchs Explorers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Frenchs Explorers.

1. #1

   

   Jacques Cartier

   1491 - 1557

   HPI 82.21147 langs

   Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who is most famous for discovering the St. Lawrence River and claiming Canada for France.

2. #2

   

   Jacques Cousteau

   1910 - 1997

   HPI 78.4681 langs

   Jacques Cousteau is most famous for his work in the field of marine biology and oceanography. He was a pioneer in underwater exploration,...Read moreShow less

   Jacques Cousteau is most famous for his work in the field of marine biology and oceanography. He was a pioneer in underwater exploration, film-making, and environmental activism.

3. #3

   

   Pytheas

   380 BC - 310 BC

   HPI 74.0655 langs

   Pytheas is most famous for his explorations of the Northwest coast of Europe, including the British Isles and what is now France and...Read moreShow less

   Pytheas is most famous for his explorations of the Northwest coast of Europe, including the British Isles and what is now France and Germany. He may have been the first person to circumnavigate the British Isles.

4. #4

   

   Louis Antoine de Bougainville

   1729 - 1811

   HPI 72.8150 langs

   Louis Antoine de Bougainville was a French admiral and explorer. He is most famous for his circumnavigation of the world in 1766-1769.

5. #5

   

   Samuel de Champlain

   1567 - 1635

   HPI 72.5166 langs

   Samuel de Champlain is most famous for his exploration of the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River.

6. #6

   

   Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse

   1741 - 1788

   HPI 70.4344 langs

   Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse is most famous for being the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe.

7. #7

   

   Jules Dumont d'Urville

   1790 - 1842

   HPI 69.9147 langs

   Jules dumont d'urville is most famous for being the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon.

8. #8

   

   Jeanne Baret

   1740 - 1807

   HPI 68.7039 langs

   Jeanne Baret was a French explorer and the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.

9. #9

   

   Jean de Béthencourt

   1362 - 1425

   HPI 68.2525 langs

   King of the Canary Islands

10. #10

    

    Charles Marie de La Condamine

    1701 - 1774

    HPI 67.9132 langs

    A French explorer and mathematician, Charles Marie de la Condamine is most famous for his expedition to Peru and Colombia in 1735-1736,...Read moreShow less

    A French explorer and mathematician, Charles Marie de la Condamine is most famous for his expedition to Peru and Colombia in 1735-1736, during which he measured the length of a degree of latitude at the equator.