Gaspar Corte-Real

Corte-Real, Gaspar

 Gaspar Corte-Real, explorer (b 1450?; d 1501). A native of the Azores, he initiated Portuguese claims in the North Atlantic. It is thought that he reached Greenland and worked his way south to Newfoundland in 1500, and that he returned in 1501 with 3 caravels and explored the Labrador coast and Hamilton Inlet. Two of the vessels returned with native captives, but his vessel disappeared. His brother Miguel searched for him the following year, but was lost as well. A third brother was refused permission to follow.