Castro, João de

Castro, João de, a famous Portuguese soldier and traveller, born at Lisbon in 1500. In his boyhood he showed a remarkable aptitude for study, but at eighteen he chose for himself a life of adventure by volunteering against the Moors at Tangiers. He next accompanied Charles V. to Tunis, and had already fought and travelled in the East, when in 1545 he sailed to the Indies at the head of a small expedition. Here he covered himself with glory by the overthrow of the Mohammedans, and by the heroic relief and defence of Diu. For these exploits he was appointed Portuguese viceroy, but did not live to enjoy the dignity, dying in the arms of Francis Xavier in June 6, 1548. His Life, by Andrada (1651), was translated into English in 1664.