Antão Gonçalves

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Antão Gonçalves

c. 1400s

Portuguese captain and trader who, in 1441 sailed along the western coast of Africa to just south of the Río de Oro where he explored the area, collected sealskin and seal oil, and took two African prisoners. On a second and third voyage, both to the Río de Oro and the last in 1445, Gonçalves did more to further the ever-growing trade of slaves than exploration.