Pedro Mascarenhas is a Portuguese explorer who is best known for his discovery of the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in 1512. He was born in 1460 in the Portuguese city of Viseu and was the son of a nobleman. He was educated in the court of King John II of Portugal and was a skilled navigator and cartographer.
Mascarenhas began his career as a navigator in 1490 when he was appointed to the post of captain of the Portuguese fleet. He was tasked with exploring the African coast and mapping the region. During this time, he made several important discoveries, including the island of São Tomé and Príncipe, which he named after the Portuguese king. He also discovered the island of Annobón, which he named after the Portuguese queen.
In 1512, Mascarenhas was sent on a mission to explore the Indian Ocean. During this voyage, he discovered the island of Diego Garcia, which he named after the Portuguese navigator Diego Garcia de Moguer. This discovery was significant as it was the first time that Europeans had explored the Indian Ocean.
Mascarenhas continued to explore the Indian Ocean and made several other important discoveries. He discovered the island of Mauritius in 1513 and named it after the Portuguese king. He also discovered the island of Réunion in 1514 and named it after the Portuguese queen.
In 1515, Mascarenhas was appointed as the first Portuguese viceroy of India. During his tenure, he established several trading posts in India and established diplomatic relations with the local rulers. He also established a Portuguese trading post in Goa, which became the first European settlement in India.
Mascarenhas was an important figure in the history of Portuguese exploration and colonization. He was responsible for the discovery of several islands in the Indian Ocean and for establishing the first Portuguese settlements in India. His discoveries helped to open up the Indian Ocean to European exploration and trade and laid the foundation for the Portuguese Empire in India.
Mascarenhas died in 1521 in Goa, India. He is remembered as one of the most important Portuguese explorers and is credited with helping to open up the Indian Ocean to European exploration and trade. His legacy lives on in the many islands he discovered and in the Portuguese settlements he established in India.