Gonçalo Álvares was a Portuguese sailor who lived during the Age of Discovery. He is known for serving on the flagship of Vasco da Gama's expedition to India and finding the island in the South Atlantic known today as Gough Island. Date of birth unknown; He died in 1524.
His maritime career began in the 1480s when he joined the second expedition of Diogo Cão, who explored the west coast of Africa. In 1497, during Vasco da Gama's expedition that opened the sea route to India, he commanded the ship São Gabriel under da Gama's command as master (mestre).
Gough Island and chief pilotage
He set out again in 1505 with the fleet of Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese governor of India. The fleet descended into the cold southern waters, where water and even wine were said to freeze, and an island was discovered on this journey. The island was named after him for a long time; In the following centuries, the name Gough Island appeared on maps, and in the 19th century it was taken over by England.
Later in his life, he served as chief pilot (pilot-mor) of Indian and ocean expeditions, a position he held until his death in 1524.
