Person    | Male  Born 4/3/1394  Died 13/11/1460

Henry the Navigator

Categories: Exploring

Countries: Portugal

Prince. Born in Porto, Portugal. Son of King John I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster, John of Gaunt's daughter. His soubriquet is misleading, as he did most of his 'navigating' from dry land rather than on board a ship. He did some actual exploring along the coast of West Africa in search of the legendary kingdom of Prester John. In 1420 he was appointed governor of the Order of Christ, the Portuguese equivalent of the Knights Templar. His patronage of exploration resulted in the discovery of the Azores and the Madeira and Cape Verde Islands. Died at Sagres.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Henry the Navigator

Commemorated ati

Henry the Navigator statue

The origin of the statue is mysterious, as it was erected more than fifty yea...

Read More

Other Subjects

Charles F. des Voeux

Charles F. des Voeux

Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Amy Johnson

Amy Johnson

Pioneering pilot who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, she set many long-distance records during the 1930s.  Born Yorkshire. ...

Person, Exploring, Transport

1 memorial
Robert Golding

Robert Golding

Role on the lost expedition: Boy on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Richard Aylmore

Richard Aylmore

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Charles Coombs

Charles Coombs

Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Ada Lavina Wilson

Ada Lavina Wilson

Killed as a result of a 13 October 1944 air raid on Coronation Avenue. Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched this lady and found that she used a variety of names throughout her life. She was...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial