A list of significant Portuguese persons
The following is a list of notable and historically significant people from Portugal.
Navigators, explorers and pioneers
15th century Vasco da Gama, discoverer of the sea route to India Pedro Álvares Cabral , discoverer of Brazil João Vaz Corte-Real , discoverer of Newfoundland. Afonso de Albuquerque, naval admiral and viceroy of India. Fernão Mendes Pinto , writer and one of the first to travel to Japan Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia , explorer of the African coast Álvaro Caminha, explorer of the Atlantic islands Álvaro Martins, explorer of the African coast Alvise Cadamosto, explorer of the Atlantic islands and of the African coast André Gonçalves, explorer of the sea route to Brazil Antão Gonçalves , explorer of the African coast Álvaro Fernandes, explorer of the African coast Bartolomeu Dias, explorer of the African coast Bartolomeu Perestrelo, explorer of the Atlantic islands Dinis Dias, explorer of the African coast Diogo Cão , explorer of the African coast Diogo de Azambuja , explorer of the African coast Diogo de Teive , explorer of the Atlantic islands Diogo Dias , explorer of the Atlantic islands, of the African coast and the Indian Ocean , discovered Madagascar Diogo Silves , explorer of the Atlantic islands Duarte Pacheco Pereira , explorer of the Atlantic Fernão do Pó , explorer of the African coast Gil Eanes , explorer of the African coast Gonçalo Velho , explorer of the Atlantic islands João de Santarém , explorer of the Atlantic islands João Gonçalves Zarco , explorer of the Atlantic islands João Grego , explorer of the African coast João Infante , explorer of the African coast João Vaz Corte-Real , explorer of North America Lopes Gonçalves , explorer of the Atlantic Luís Pires , explorer of the sea route to Brazil Nicolau Coelho , explorer of the sea route to Brazil Nuno Tristão , explorer of the African coast Paulo da Gama , explorer of the sea route to India Pedro Álvares Cabral , discoverer of Brazil in 1500 Pedro Escobar , explorer of the Atlantic islands Pero de Alenquer , explorer of the African coast Pero de Sintra , explorer of the African coast Pero Dias , explorer of the African coast Pero Vaz de Caminha , explorer of the sea route to Brazil Tristão Vaz Teixeira , explorer of the Atlantic islands Vasco da Gama , led the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498
15th/16th century
16th century Afonso de Albuquerque , naval admiral and viceroy of India António de Abreu , explorer of Indonesia António Mota , among the first to reach Japan Bento de Góis , explorer Cristóvão Jacques , explorer of the Brazilian coast Cristóvão de Mendonça , some have claimed he discovered Australia ; this is disputed Diogo Lopes de Sequeira , explorer of the Indian Ocean Diogo Rodrigues , explorer of the Indian Ocean Duarte Fernandes , diplomat in Thailand Estevão da Gama, explorer of the Indian Ocean Fernão Lopez , soldier in India and first resident of the island of Saint Helena Fernão Mendes Pinto , among the first to reach Japan Fernão Pires de Andrade , merchant in China Francisco Álvares , missionary and explorer in Ethiopia Francisco de Almeida , explorer and viceroy of India Gaspar Corte-Real , explorer of North America Gomes de Sequeira , some claim he discovered Australia; this is disputed João da Nova , explorer of the Atlantic and of the Indian Ocean Jorge Álvares , the first to reach China João Rodrigues Cabrilho , discoverer of California Lourenço Marques , trader and explorer in East Africa Martim Afonso de Sousa , explorer and soldier in India Miguel Corte-Real , explorer of North America Paulo Dias de Novais , colonizer of Africa Pedro Mascarenhas , explorer of the Indian Ocean Tristão da Cunha , naval general and discoverer Ferdinand Magellan , led the first successful attempt to circumnavigate the Earth (1519–1522); explorer of the Pacific Ocean
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
Monarchs
Saints Saint Anthony of Lisbon (or Padua)
Blessed
Religious António de Andrade (1580–1634), missionary, explorer of Tibet António Vieira (1608–1697), writer, diplomat and preacher João Ferreira Annes de Almeida (1628–1691), missionary Paulo António de Carvalho e Mendonça (1702–1770), priest and cardinal, Inquisitor-General of the Holy Inquisition Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos (1907–2005), visionary, involved in the 1917 Fátima events Paulus Orosius (385–420), historian, theologian and disciple of St. Augustine
Popes Pope John XXI
Philosophers
Musicians Adriano Correia de Oliveira (1942–1982), singer Alfredo Keil (1850–1907), composer of the Portuguese anthem Ana Free , singer Ana Moura (born 1979), singer, fadista António Zambujo (born 1975), singer, fadista Alfredo Marceneiro (1891–1982), fado singer Amália Rodrigues (1920–1999), the most famous fado singer António Fragoso (1897–1918), piano composer António Pinho Vargas (born 1951), classical, jazz and piano composer António Variações (1944–1984), singer-songwriter Aurea, singer Camané (born 1967), singer, fadista Carlos do Carmo (1939–2021), singer, fadista Carlos Paredes (1925–2004), Portuguese guitar player Carlos Seixas (1704–1742), composer Cristina Branco (born 1972), fado singer Danny Fernandes , singer David Fonseca (born 1973), singer Diogo Piçarra , singer DJ Vibe , DJ Duarte Lobo (1565–1646), composer Dulce Pontes (born 1969), singer Fernando Lopes Graça (1906–1995), composer Fernando Ribeiro (born 1974), Moonspell vocals Francisco d'Andrade (1856–1921), international opera baritone Guilhermina Suggia (1885–1950), cellist Isabel Soveral (born 1961), composer Jay Kay (born 1969), singer; Portuguese father João Domingos Bomtempo (1775–1842), composer Joaquim José Antunes (1725–1790), harpsichord maker Jorge Palma (born 1950), singer, pianist and songwriter José Afonso (1929–1987), aka Zeca Afonso, composer, player Luciana Abreu (born 1985), singer, composer, actress, TV host Lúcia Moniz (born 1976), singer, actress Luís de Freitas Branco (1890–1955), composer Luísa Todi (1753–1833), lyrical singer Mafalda Arnauth (born 1974), fado singer Malvina Garrigues (1825–1904), opera soprano Manuela Azevedo , singer Maria Ascensão (1926–2001), folklorist Maria João Pires (born 1944), piano player Maria João (born 1956), jazz singer Mário Laginha (born 1960), piano player Mariza (born 1973), fado singer Mísia , fado singer Nelly Furtado , singer Nuno Bettencourt (born 1966), guitarist, singer-songwriter Paulo Furtado , blues performer Pedro de Escobar (c. 1465 – 1535), composer Rita Guerra (born 1967), singer Rita Redshoes , singer Rui da Silva, disc jockey Rui Veloso (born 1957), singer Salvador Sobral (born 1989), singer Sara Tavares (born 1978), singer Shawn Desman , singer Shawn Mendes , singer Sérgio Godinho (born 1948), singer Steve Perry, lead singer of band Journey Teresa Salgueiro (born 1969), Madredeus vocals José Vianna da Motta (1868–1948), piano player, composer Vitorino (born 1942), singer
Writers José Maria de Eça de Queiroz , realist writer
Fictionists
Poets Ana Luísa Amaral Antero de Quental [ 11] António Nobre [ 11] Camilo Pessanha [ 11] Cesário Verde [ 11] David Mourão-Ferreira Eugénio de Andrade [ 11] [ 13] Fernando Pessoa ,[ 14] [ 11] poet writer philosopher, described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century[ 16] Fiama Hasse Pais Brandão , poet and writer Guerra Junqueiro , poet and writer Herberto Hélder [ 11] Jorge de Sena , writer and poet[ 11] [ 13] José Gomes Ferreira , writer Luís Vaz de Camões , poet, playwright[ 11] [ 17] Manuel Alegre , poet, writer and politician Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage [ 11] Orlando da Costa , poet and playwright Sá de Miranda [ 11] Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen [ 11] [ 13] Teixeira de Pascoaes [ 11] Vasco Graça Moura
Others Agostinho da Silva , writer and philosopher[ 11] Alice Vieira , children's books writer Almada Negreiros Álvaro Cunhal , neo-realist writer Álvaro Magalhães, writer Ana de Castro Osório , writer and pioneer feminist André de Resende , writer António Ferreira (poet)[ 11] [ 17] António José da Silva , playwright[ 11] António Vieira (1608–1697), preacher and writer[ 11] Damião de Góis , writer Eduardo Lourenço [ 11] Fernão Lopes (c. 1380–1458), royal chronicler[ 11] Gil Vicente , playwright[ 11] Gomes Eanes de Zurara , chronicler João de Barros , writer and historian Luiz Pacheco (1925–2008), writer and editor Natália Correia , writer and poet Raul Proença (1884–1941), writer Rosa Lobato Faria , writer Rui de Pina , chronicler Tomé Pires (1465–1540), author of the Suma Oriental Urbano Tavares Rodrigues , writer and journalist
Artists Sofia Areal , painter Almada Negreiros (1893–1970), 20th-century painter Amadeo de Souza Cardoso (1887–1918), 20th-century painter Ana Dias (born 1984), photographer of erotic femininity António Soares dos Reis (1847–1889), 19th-century sculptor Aurélia de Souza (1865–1922), 19th/20th-century painter Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857–1929), 19th/20th-century painter Eduardo Gageiro (born 1935), 20th-century photographer Fernando Lanhas (1923–2012), 20th/21st-century painter and architect Filipe Alarcão (born 1963), urban and modern contemporary designer Helena Corrêa de Barros (1910–2000), 20th-century photographer João M. P. Lemos , cartoonist José Dias Coelho (1923–1961), 20th-century artist José Malhoa , 19th-century painter Joshua Benoliel (1873–1932), 19th/20th-century photographer Júlio Pomar (1926–2018), 20th-century painter Marco Mendes (born 1978), comic artist Manuel Pereira da Silva (1920–2003), 20th-century sculptor Nadir Afonso (1920–2013), geometric abstract painter Nuno Gonçalves , 15th-century painter Paula Rego , 20th-century painter Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro , 19th-century caricaturist Raquel Gameiro (1889–1970), painter and illustrator Vasco Fernandes (Grão Vasco), 15th-century painter Vieira da Silva , 20th-century painter
Scientists Abel Salazar (1889–1946) Alexandre Quintanilha (born 1945) André de Resende (c. 1500 – 1573) António A. de Freitas (born 1947), immunologist António Damásio (born 1944), neurologist Bartolomeu de Gusmão (1685–1724), inventor Bento de Jesus Caraça (1901–1948), mathematician Diogo Abreu (born 1947), geographer Egas Moniz (1874–1955), neurologist and Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1949 Freitas-Magalhães (born 1966), psychologist Garcia de Orta (c. 1499 – 1568), botanical scientist Hanna Damásio (born 1942), neurologist Jacob de Castro Sarmento (c. 1691 – 1762) João de Pina-Cabral (born 1954), anthropologist João Magueijo (born 1967), physicist Miguel Vale de Almeida (born 1960), anthropologist Benedita Barata da Rocha (1949–2021), immunologist Orlando Ribeiro (1911–1997), geographer Pedro Nunes (1502–1578), mathematician and cosmographer Raquel Seruca (1962–2022), oncobiologist Sousa Martins (1843–1897) Tomé Pires (c. 1465–c. 1540)
Engineers and architects Álvaro Siza Vieira (born 1933), architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça , architect Edgar Cardoso (1913–2000), engineer Nuno Montenegro (born 1970), architect Eduardo Souto de Moura , architect Fernando Távora (1923–2005), architect José Tribolet , engineer, IST professor Tomás Taveira (born 1938), architect António Maria Braga , architect
Psychiatrists
Actors and directors
Actors Alexandra Lencastre (born 1965) Ana Rita Machado (born 1991) António Silva Beatriz Batarda Beatriz Costa Carmen Miranda (1909–1955), singer and actress Daniela Melchior Daniela Ruah Diogo Infante Diogo Morgado Eunice Muñoz (1928–2022) Fernando Rocha (born 1975), comedian, actor Francisco Ribeiro (1911–1984), actor, comedian, film director, theatre director Herman José (born 1954), actor and humourist João Villaret (1913–1961), actor and poetry reader Joaquim de Almeida (born 1957) Maria de Medeiros Maria Matos (1890–1952) Nicolau Breyner Nuno Lopes (born 1978) Raul Solnado , actor and humourist Teresa Aço , actor Vasco Santana (1898–1958)
Directors
Others
Soldiers
Sports
Piggy Speedrunning 3 hours (born 2008) Best City Player TheAlphaKnight (born 2010) Random Speedrunner
Bernardo Silva (born 1994) football player Carlos Queiroz , football coach Costinha (born 1974), football player Cristiano Ronaldo (born 1985), football player Dinis Vital (1932–2014), football player Eusébio (1942–2014), football player, born in Portuguese Mozambique ; later moved to Portugal Hugo Almeida (born 1984), football player José Mourinho , football coach João Cancelo , football player João Félix , football player João Moutinho , football player Luís Figo (born 1972), football player Luís Miguel Afonso Fernandes , football player Maniche (born 1977), football player Matheus Nunes (born 1998) football player Nani, football player Nuno Gomes , football player Pauleta , football player Paulo Ferreira , football player Paulo Futre , former football player Paulo Sousa , former football player Pereira Da Silva , football player Ricardo Carvalho , football player Ricardo Pereira, football player Ricardo Quaresma (born 1983), football player Ricardo Sá Pinto , football player Rúben Dias (born 1997) football player Rui Costa (born 1972), football player Simão Sabrosa (born 1979), football player Vítor Baía (born 1969), football player
Others Ana Rocha , professional wrestler António Jesus Correia (1924–2003) António Livramento (1944–1999), hockey player Carlos Lopes (born 1947), marathon Olympic champion Carlos Sousa , off-road driver, world champion in 2003 Fernanda Ribeiro (born 1969), 10,000m Olympic champion Francis Obikwelu , Nigerian-born runner Joaquim Agostinho , cyclist José Azevedo , cyclist João Sousa , tennis player Moises Henriques , Australian cricketer from Portugal Nelson Évora , long jump Olympic and world champion Pedro Lamy , former Formula One and DTM driver Rosa Mota (born 1958), marathon Olympic champion Rui Costa, cycling world champion Telma Monteiro , four times judo silver medalist at world championships Tiago Monteiro , former Champ Car and Formula One driver Ticha Penicheiro , WNBA player Vanessa Fernandes , triathlon world champion
Politicians Afonso Costa (1871–1937), Prime Minister during the First Republic Alberto João Jardim (born 1943), President of Regional Government of the Madeira Autonomous Region for 37 years Álvaro Cunhal (1913–2005), former General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party Aníbal Cavaco Silva , Prime Minister and President of the Republic Anton de Vieira (1682–1745), governor of St Petersburg and Okhotsk António de Oliveira Salazar (1889–1970), head of government and de facto leader of the Estado Novo dictatorial regime for 36 years António Costa (born 1961), Prime Minister António Guterres , Prime Minister, Secretary-General of the United Nations , United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and President of the Socialist International António Vitorino , Minister, judge of the Constitutional Court, EU Commissioner and Director General of the International Organization for Migration Bento Gonçalves (1902–1942), General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party Carlos Alberto da Mota Pinto (1936–1985), Prime Minister Carlos Carvalhas (born 1941), General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party Diogo Freitas do Amaral , President of the General Assembly of the United Nations and Minister of Foreign Affairs Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança , claimant to the abolished throne of Portugal Francisco Sá Carneiro (1934–1980), Prime Minister Jaime Ornelas Camacho (1921–2016), first President of the Regional Government of Madeira Jerónimo de Sousa (born 1947), General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party Jorge Sampaio , President of the Republic and Mayor of Lisbon José Manuel Barroso , Prime Minister and President of the European Commission José Sócrates , Prime Minister Manuel Pinho (born 1954), Minister of the Economy and Innovation Marcelo Caetano (1906–1980), last head of government of the Estado Novo dictatorial regime, from 1968 to 1974 Mário Soares (1924–2017), Prime Minister and President of the Republic Octávio Pato (1925–1999) Pedro Santana Lopes , Prime Minister and Mayor of Lisbon Teresa Heinz Kerry , philanthropist and wife of US Senator John Kerry Vasco Gonçalves (1922–2005), Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal (1699–1782), statesman
Historians
Businesspeople
Other
See also
References ^ "St. Amator - Saints & Angels". ^ "St. Beatrice da Silva Meneses - Saints & Angels". ^ "St. Verissimus, Maxima, and Julia - Saints & Angels". ^ "St. Mancius - Saints & Angels". ^ "St. Verissimus, Maxima, and Julia - Saints & Angels". ^ "St. Rita Amada de Jesus - Saints & Angels". ^ "St. Rudesind - Saints & Angels". ^ "St. Verissimus, Maxima, and Julia - Saints & Angels". ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Wilgefortis". ^ "St. Teresa of Portugal - Saints & Angels". ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "As 50 obras essenciais da literatura portuguesa" [The 50 essential works of portuguese literature]. Diário de Notícias. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2021 . ^ Bloom, Harold (1994). The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages . NY/San Diego/London: Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 541. ISBN 978-1-57322-514-4 . ^ a b c d e Bloom, Harold (1994). The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages . NY/San Diego/London: Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 550. ISBN 978-1-57322-514-4 . ^ a b "The top 100 books of all time". The Guardian . 8 May 2002. Retrieved 7 March 2021 . ^ "The Nobel Prize in Literature 1998". The Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 7 March 2021 . ^ Bloom, Harold (1994). "Borges, Neruda, and Pessoa: Hispanic-Portuguese Whitman". The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages . NY/San Diego/London: Harcourt Brace & Company. pp. 463–492. ISBN 978-1-57322-514-4 . ^ a b Bloom, Harold (1994). The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages . NY/San Diego/London: Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 535. ISBN 978-1-57322-514-4 . ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (2004). Essential Cinema: On the Necessity of Film Canons . Baltimore/London: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 419–420, 422, 424. ISBN 0-8018-7840-3 . ^ "The 21st Century's 100 greatest films". BBC . Retrieved 7 March 2021 . ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan (2004). Essential Cinema: On the Necessity of Film Canons . Baltimore/London: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 424. ISBN 0-8018-7840-3 .