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Gaspar Corte-Real
Gaspar Corte-Real (c.1450–c.1501) was a Portuguese explorer from a seafaring family who, around 1500, sailed west under Manuel I, reached the coast o…
Timeline
- c. 1450–1500Portugal · PortugalThe Corte-Real family was closely tied to maritime trade; his brother Miguel Corte-Real was also a noted explorer. Gaspar accumulated sailing experience in the late 15th century, preparing for a royal commission at sea.
- 1500coast of Newfoundland · Newfoundland and LabradorIn 1500 he led two ships westward, reaching the northeast coast of North America, capturing some indigenous people and claiming land. This voyage drew Portugal into competition over new North Atlantic lands and sparked disputes with Spain's sphere of influence.
- 1501North Atlantic · North AtlanticIn 1501 he again set out with three ships to seek deeper routes and lands, after which the fleet lost contact. His brother Miguel organized a search the following year without success; Gaspar's fate remains unknown, making him one of the many explorers lost during the Age of Discovery.
Sources
- Encyclopædia Britannica: Gaspar Corte-Real https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gaspar-Corte-Real
- The Portuguese in the West Indies — A. W. H. Phelps (1931)