Miguel Corte-Real

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miguel Corte-Real (pronounced [miˈgɛɫ ˈkoɾtɨ ʁiˈaɫ]) (c.1448 – 1502?) was a 15th century Portuguese explorer.

He was a son of João Vaz Corte-Real and a brother of explorer Gaspar Corte-Real. Gaspar disappeared somewhere near Newfoundland in 1501. In May of the following year, Miguel set out an expedition to search for him, but he too disappeared. He is thought to have perished in a storm. Some scholars believe that Miguel Corte-Real carved inscriptions on the controversial Dighton Rock, along the Taunton River in what is today the U.S. state of Massachusetts. This interpretation assumes that Dighton Rock was, in fact, a crude Padrão, or Portuguese claim marker. If true, it would indicate that Corte-Real had survived for years after he was thought to have been lost at sea. The sole surviving brother, Vasco Anes Corte-Real, wished to sail in search of his brothers, but he was refused permission by the Portuguese monarch.

[edit] See also

• Age of Discovery
• Gaspar Corte-Real
• Explorers
• Portugal
• Northwest Passage
• List of people who have disappeared

[edit] External links

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• The Corte-Real family and the Dighton rock mystery