João Vaz Corte-Real

From Freepedia

João Vaz Corte-Real was a Portuguese explorer in the 15th century. In 1472 he was granted lands on Terceira Island on the Azores because he had discovered Terra Nova do Bacalhau. There is considerable speculation that this may have been Newfoundland (Terra Nova, in Portuguese, literally New Land). He was most likely accompanied by Didrik Pining, Hans Pothorst and John of Kolno. He was the father of Miguel and Gaspar Corte-Real.

Corte-Real had done two explorations in the Northwest Atlantic, in the first voyage he reached Greenland before 1472. In the second trip with his sons, he reached Newfoundland (before Columbus).

Because of his explorations he was granted the title of Capitão-Donatário of Angra do Heroísmo in 1474, and in 1483, he took the same position in the Capitania of São Jorge Island.

References

• História de Portugal XIII - Dicionário de Personalidades, QuidNovi 2004 ISBN 989554118X