Miguel Corte-Real facts for kids

Miguel Corte-Real was a brave Portuguese explorer. He was born around 1448. Miguel explored about 600 miles of the coast of Labrador. This area is in North America. In 1502, he went on an important trip. Sadly, he disappeared during this journey. Many people believe he was lost at sea.

Miguel's Family and Early Life

Miguel Corte-Real came from an important family. His father was João Vaz Corte-Real. Miguel also had a brother named Gaspar Corte-Real. Gaspar was an explorer too. The Corte-Real family was well-known in Portugal.

Exploring New Lands

Miguel's brother Gaspar started exploring in 1500. He reached Greenland, thinking it was part of Asia. But he could not land there. The next year, Gaspar sailed west again. This time, he landed in a place believed to be Newfoundland. Gaspar's trip had three ships. Only two of them returned to Portugal. Gaspar's ship was lost at sea.

Miguel had put a lot of money into these trips. Gaspar had promised him a share of any new lands found.

The Search for Gaspar

In May 1502, Miguel decided to search for his brother. He left Lisbon with three ships. His expedition reached the area where Gaspar had landed. There, the three ships split up. They went in different directions to search.

On August 20, Miguel's ship did not show up. It was supposed to meet the other two ships. The other two ships sailed back to Portugal. Miguel and his ship were never seen again.

In 1503, the last brother, Vasco Añes Corte-Real, planned another rescue trip. King Manuel I gave him two ships. But the King did not let Vasco go on the trip himself. The expedition returned later that year. They did not find any sign of either brother.

The Dighton Rock Mystery

For a while, some people thought Miguel Corte-Real reached New England. This idea came from markings on the Dighton Rock in Massachusetts. In the early 1900s, a researcher named Edmund B. Delabarre studied the rock. He thought the markings were Latin words. He translated them to say: "I, Miguel Cortereal, 1511. In this place, by the will of God, I became a chief of the Indians."

However, later experts disagreed. A famous historian, Samuel Eliot Morison, said this idea was not true. More recent studies have also shown that the markings are not from Miguel Corte-Real.

See also

In Spanish: Miguel Corte Real para niños