Prince Henry the Navigator

Take a look at the man who changed the world but never sailed beyond his own shores. Prince Henry of Portugal, born in 1394, was the royal prince who funded the voyages that opened the oceans yet never once stepped aboard an exploring ship himself. Henry was the third son of King John I, which meant he would never be king. Instead, he found another way to make history.

At 21, he helped capture the North African city of Ceuta in 1415. This victory sparked his fascination with what lay beyond the known world. He assembled shipbuilders, mapmakers, and navigators to design the caravel, a revolutionary ship that could sail against the wind. From 1419 onwards, he sponsored expeditions down the West African coast. Each crew recorded winds, currents, and coastlines, creating a scientific archive that made future voyages possible.

The chapel at Belém became the last stop for every departing crew. Sailors prayed there before sailing into waters Europeans believed were filled with monsters. By 1460, when Henry died, Portuguese ships had reached Sierra Leone. His expeditions also began the Portuguese slave trade. In 1444, the first captured Africans were brought to the docks, marking the start of a tragic chapter in history.