Vasco Fernandes Coutinho, captain of Espírito Santo explained

Vasco Fernandes Coutinho
Office:1st Captain-major of the Captaincy of Espírito Santo
Term Start:23 May 1535
Term End:21 June 1561
Successor:Vasco Fernandes Coutinho Filho
Father:Jorge de Melo
Mother:Branca Coutinho
Birth Date:1490
Birth Place:Serpa, Kingdom of Portugal
Death Place:Vila Velha, Portuguese colony of Brazil
Spouse:Maria do Campo
Ana Vaz de Almada
Children:Jorge
Martim
Guiomar
Maria Catarina
Vasco Fernandes Filho

Vasco Fernandes Coutinho (1490–1561) was a Portuguese fidalgo and the first donatary of the Captaincy of Espírito Santo, a colonial territory in what is now Brazil.

Biography

Vasco Fernandes Coutinho was born in Portugal. He was later amongst the first 12 volunteers from Portugal to come to the newly discovered land of Brazil. He was presented the area which became Espírito Santo and administered the colony for 25 years, despite being a military man by trade.

He founded both the first capital of Espírito Santo (today known as Vila Velha, "Old Town") and the current capital Vitória.

During his administration Espírito Santo's first two churches – São João and Rosário, both in Vila Velha – were founded in 1551. Both are still standing.

External links

|-