Alvise Cadamosto

Alvise Cadamosto was born in Venice into a noble family that fell into disgrace and was forced to leave the Republic. After that event Cadamosto entered the service of the Prince Henry of Portugal and made two voyages to the Western Africa during which he discovered the Cape Verde Islands.

In 1455 and 1456 Cadamosto was sent on two voyages to the West Africa to explore the territory and to trade. During the first travel Cadamosto explored the area of present-day Senegal and the Gambia, reaching the Rio Grande (present day River Geba) on the south during the second voyage. Blown off course in the storm, Cadamosto discovered the Cape Verde Islands accidentally. After his return to Portugal he worked for a while as a trader before he decided to return to his hometown and turn to a diplomatic career. Having decided to permanently record his experiences, Cadamosto is credited with writing one of the earliest known accounts of the western Africa entitled “Navigazioni” which was published posthumously.