About Álvaro Caminha
Lived 1401 – 1499 (aged 97–98). Álvaro Caminha was an explorer and colonial administrator.
Álvaro Caminha was appointed by King John II of Portugal in 1492 Captain-major (governor) – the third – of the Portuguese colony of São Tomé and Príncipe which had been discovered 22 years earlier.
He was a knight of the king's household. He was told to settle and "Christianize" the then-deserted island with his family and friars, and for that purpose was given the children of Spanish Jewish refugees from Granada, which had not been able to pay the tax requested by the king, and who were married to Black people from the Congo.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Álvaro Caminha's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Álvaro Caminha?
Portuguese explorer
When was Álvaro Caminha born?
Álvaro Caminha was born in 1401 in Faro.
When did Álvaro Caminha die?
Álvaro Caminha died on 28 April 1499 in São Tomé Island.
What was Álvaro Caminha's occupation?
Álvaro Caminha was an explorer and colonial administrator.
What nationality was Álvaro Caminha?
Álvaro Caminha's recorded nationality: Kingdom of Portugal, Portuguese People.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Álvaro Caminha. https://biography.guide/alvaro-caminha/
MLA: "Álvaro Caminha." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alvaro-caminha/.
Chicago: "Álvaro Caminha." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alvaro-caminha/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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