Pedro Cabral was the third son of Fernao Alvares Cabral and Isabel Gouveia. He was born in 1467 in Belmonte, Portugal. He came from a minor noble family and received a good education growing up. Cabral's character has been described as well-learned, courteous, prudent, generous, tolerant with enemies, humble, but also vain and too concerned with the respect he felt his honor and position demanded. He married Isabel de Castro and had 6 children; Isabel de Castro, Antonio Cabral, Fernao Alvares Cabral, Leonor de Castro, Catarina de Castro, Guiomar de Castro.
In 1499, Cabral was appointed chief captain of a fleet bound for the Malabar Coast of southern India to establish trading ports in Lisbon. The fleet left March 9, 1500 with 13 ships and 1,000 men. Bartolomeu Dias served as one of the commanders on the voyage. Cabral decided not to follow Dias’ route around the west coast of Africa. Instead, he followed Vasco da Gama’s route.
After sailing in a southern direction and passing the Canary and Cape Verde Islands on March 22, 1500, Cabral took advantage of the trade winds and began sailing in a southwesterly direction. Cabral reached the Cape of Good Hope and winds and currents pushed him west. On April 22, 1500, land was sighted. Cabral would be the first to see modern-day Mount Pascal in Brazil. He also established a successful sea route to India and was a leader in commercial expedition there.
In 1499, Cabral was appointed chief captain of a fleet bound for the Malabar Coast of southern India to establish trading ports in Lisbon. The fleet left March 9, 1500 with 13 ships and 1,000 men. Bartolomeu Dias served as one of the commanders on the voyage. Cabral decided not to follow Dias’ route around the west coast of Africa. Instead, he followed Vasco da Gama’s route.
After sailing in a southern direction and passing the Canary and Cape Verde Islands on March 22, 1500, Cabral took advantage of the trade winds and began sailing in a southwesterly direction. Cabral reached the Cape of Good Hope and winds and currents pushed him west. On April 22, 1500, land was sighted. Cabral would be the first to see modern-day Mount Pascal in Brazil. He also established a successful sea route to India and was a leader in commercial expedition there.
