Miguel Corte-Real is a Portuguese sailor and explorer who disappeared during a North Atlantic expedition in search of his missing brother. He is credited with mapping approximately 600 miles of the Labrador coast.
He was born in Portugal around 1450. He was the second son of Joรฃo Vaz Corte-Real, known for his campaigns in the Azores; The explorers Gaspar Corte-Real and Vasco Aรฑes were Corte-Real's brothers.
expedition of 1502
Gaspar led expeditions around Greenland and Newfoundland in 1500 and 1501. Miguel did not participate in these journeys, but intended to get a share of the lands to be found by investing a significant amount of money. In the 1501 expedition, two of the ships returned to Portugal, but Gaspar's ship was never seen again.
King Manuel I granted Miguel captaincy over the lands he would explore. In May 1502, Miguel set out from Lisbon with three ships in search of his brother. After reaching the coast of Newfoundland, the ships separated to comb different areas and agreed to meet at the appointed point on 20 August. Two ships arrived at the meeting place; Miguel's ship did not arrive.
The other ships returned to Portugal, Miguel and his crew were never seen again and were presumed lost at sea.
In 1503, Vasco Aรฑes wanted to organize a rescue expedition in search of his brothers; The king did not let him go, but sent two ships. Bu gemiler de hiรงbir iz bulamadan dรถndรผ.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Edmund B. Delabarre suggested that markings on Dighton Rock in Massachusetts indicated that Miguel reached New England and lived until 1511. This interpretation was not accepted by later researchers.
