João Fernandes Lavrador

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João Fernandes Lavrador
Born1453
Portuguese
Occupation(s)Explorer, navigator
Known forExplorer of the coasts of the Northeast of Northern America.

João Fernandes Lavrador (1453–1501) (Portuguese pronunciation:

Labrador peninsula, which was named after him by European settlers in eastern Canada. The popular dog breed Labrador Retriever
is named after the peninsula and thus by effect also bears his name.

Expeditions

Lavrador was granted a patent by King Manuel I in 1498 that gave him the right to explore the part of the Atlantic Ocean as set out in the Treaty of Tordesillas.[1]

Together with Pero de Barcelos, Lavrador first sighted what is now known as Labrador in 1498. Lavrador also charted the coasts of Southwestern Greenland and of adjacent Northeastern North America around 1498; he reported on these observations and gave notice of them in Europe. The areas are believed to have been named island of the Labrador and land of the Labrador (modern-day Labrador), respectively, after him.[citation needed]

Upon his return from Greenland, Lavrador sailed to Bristol. He received a patent for exploration from King Henry VII. In 1501 Lavrador set sail for discovery of lands in the name of England. He was never heard from again.[citation needed]

Lavrador was granted title to much of the lands he had discovered and is considered the first European landowner in Labrador.[citation needed]

References