Pedro Alvarez Cabral
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Cabral, PEDRO ALVAREZ, Portuguese navigator; born about 1460. In 1499, after VASCO DA GAMA returned from India, Cabral was sent by King Emanuel, with thirteen ships, on a voyage from Lisbon to the East Indies, for the purpose of following up Gama's discoveries. He left Lisbon on March 9, 1500. In order to avoid the calms on the Guinea shore, he went so far westward as to discover land on the coast of Brazil at lat. 10° S. He erected a cross, and named the country "The Land of the Holy Cross." It was afterwards called Brazil, from brasil, a dyewood that abounded there. Cabral took possession of the country in the name of the King. After it was ascertained that it was a part of the American continent, a controversy arose between the crowns of Spain and Portugal concerning the right of possession, but it was settled amicably - Portugal to possess the portion of the continent discovered by Cabral, that is, from the River Amazon to the Plate (De la Plata). This discovery led Emanuel to send out another expedition (three ships) under AMERICUS VESPUCIUS, in May, 1501. They touched Brazil at lat. 5° S., and returned home after a voyage of sixteen months. Cabral died about 1526.
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