João Fernandes Lavrador facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
João Fernandes Lavrador
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| Born | 1453 |
| Died | c. 1501 Unknown
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| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation | Explorer, navigator |
| Known for | Explorer of the coasts of the Northeast of Northern America. |
João Fernandes Lavrador (born in 1453, died around 1501) was a brave Portuguese explorer. He was one of the first modern explorers to map the northeastern coasts of North America. The large Labrador peninsula, a big piece of land in eastern Canada, was named after him. Even the popular dog breed, the Labrador Retriever, gets its name from this peninsula, and so, from him! These dogs were first bred to help hunters.
Contents
What Does His Name Mean?
The name Lavrador means "farmer" or "plower" in Portuguese. However, this name has nothing to do with what his family did for a living. It was just their family name.
His Amazing Journeys
Exploring New Lands
In 1498, King Manuel I of Portugal gave João Fernandes Lavrador a special permission. This permission allowed him to explore parts of the Atlantic Ocean. These areas were decided by an agreement called the Treaty of Tordesillas. This treaty divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Spain.
Together with another explorer named Pêro de Barcelos, Lavrador first saw the land we now call Labrador in 1498. He also mapped the coasts of southwestern Greenland. He then explored the nearby northeastern parts of North America. He shared his discoveries in Europe, telling everyone what he had seen.
How Places Got Their Names
People believe that the areas he explored were named after him. For example, parts of Greenland were called island of the Labrador. The mainland area became known as land of the Labrador, which is modern-day Labrador.
In a map from 1532, made by Diogo Ribeiro, there's a note along the coast of Greenland. It says: "As he who first sighted it was a farmer from the Azores Islands, this name remains attached to that country." The "farmer" mentioned was João Fernandes Lavrador. For many years in the 1500s, the name Labrador was often used for what we now call Greenland.
Journey to England
After his trip to Greenland, Lavrador sailed to Bristol, a city in England. There, he received another special permission, this time from King Henry VII of England. In 1501, Lavrador set sail again to discover more lands for England. Sadly, he was never seen or heard from again after this journey.
João Fernandes Lavrador was given ownership of many of the lands he discovered. This makes him one of the first European landowners in the region of Labrador.
See also
In Spanish: João Fernandes Lavrador para niños
