Álvaro Caminha was appointed by King John II of Portugal in 1492 Captain-major (governor) – the third – of the Portuguese colony of São Tomé and Príncipe which had been discovered 22 years earlier.

Álvaro Caminha
Captain-major of São Tomé
In office
29 July 1493 – 28 April 1499
MonarchsJohn II of Portugal
Manuel I of Portugal
Preceded byJoão Pereira
Succeeded byFernão de Melo
Personal details
Born14??
Kingdom of Portugal
Died28 April 1499
São Tomé Island

He was a knight of the king's household. He was told to settle and "Christianize" the then-deserted island with his family and friars, and for that purpose was given the children of Spanish Jewish refugees from Granada, which had not been able to pay the tax requested by the king, and who were married to Black people from the Congo.

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