May 29

Born around 1451 in Algarve, Portugal, Bartolomeu Dias entered royal service as a navigator and sailor. In 1487, he led the expedition that discovered the sea route around the southern tip of Africa, demonstrating that the Atlantic and Indian Oceans were connected. His voyage opened the way for a direct maritime trade route to India and Asia. Dias's reports and charting of the African coast were instrumental for subsequent explorers, including Vasco da Gama. He continued his career in naval service and undertook further voyages along the African shore. Dias died in 1500 during a storm off the Cape of Good Hope while serving in Pedro Álvares Cabral’s fleet.

Born in 1853, Seton-Karr served as a Member of Parliament and traveled extensively across Africa and the Americas. As a big-game hunter and sportsman, he participated in numerous safaris and documented his experiences in popular publications. His expedition accounts combined vivid storytelling with natural history observations, captivating readers of his time. An accomplished athlete and keen observer of the natural world, he helped map remote regions. He was among the passengers lost when the RMS Empress of Ireland sank on May 29, 1914.