João Fernandes Lavrador | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1453 |
| Died | c. 1501 Unknown |
| Occupation(s) | Explorer, navigator |
| Known for | Explorer of the coasts of the Northeast ofNorthern America. |
João Fernandes Lavrador (1453–1501) (Portuguese pronunciation:[ʒuˈɐ̃wfɨɾˈnɐ̃dɨʒlɐvɾɐˈðoɾ]) was aPortugueseexplorer of the late 15th century. He was one of the first modern explorers of the Northeast coasts ofNorth America, including the largeLabrador peninsula, which was named after him by European settlers in eastern Canada. The popular dog breedLabrador Retriever is named after the peninsula and thus by effect also bears his name.
Lavrador was granted a patent byKing Manuel I in 1498 that gave him the right to explore the part of the Atlantic Ocean as set out in theTreaty of Tordesillas.[1]
Together withPero de Barcelos, Lavrador first sighted what is now known as Labrador in 1498. Lavrador also charted the coasts of SouthwesternGreenland and of adjacent NortheasternNorth America around 1498; he reported on these observations and gave notice of them in Europe. The areas are believed to have been namedisland of the Labrador andland of the Labrador (modern-dayLabrador), respectively, after him.[citation needed]
Upon his return from Greenland, Lavrador sailed toBristol. He received a patent for exploration fromKing Henry VII. In 1501 Lavrador set sail for discovery of lands in the name of England. He was never heard from again.[citation needed]