All battles given were between the French and British. However, the two battles that happened prior to 1756 were the Battle of Monongahela River and the Battle of Lake George. The first battle happened on July 9, 1755. It was won by the French and Indian troops against the British and Americans. The second battle happened on September 8, 1755. It was won by the British, and is considered their first major victory against the French troops.
The man being described here is Prince Henry the Navigator. Prince Henry was a Portuguese man who helped spark the age of exploration. He is known for his several contributions to this era, including:
1) Opening of a school for navigation in Sagres, Portugal.
2) Mapping the west coast of Africa.
3) Laid the foundation for individuals like Christopher Columbus, Vasco Da Gama, and John Cabot.
They all had their pecks before colonization of Africa, and all were in west Africa