1509day.year
João da Nova
(1460 - 1509)
Portuguese explorer
Portuguese explorer
Portuguese navigator credited with discovering Ascension Island and Saint Helena during the Age of Discovery.
Born around 1460, João da Nova joined the Portuguese navy and participated in early voyages to West Africa. In 1501, he led an expedition eastward and became the first European to sight Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. On a subsequent voyage in 1502, he charted Saint Helena, providing vital waypoints for ships traveling to India. His expeditions contributed to Portugal’s expanding maritime empire and the development of new sea routes. Nova’s accurate navigation and mapping techniques aided future explorers in charting the Indian Ocean and Atlantic islands. He died in 1509 shortly after returning from his voyages, leaving a legacy in the annals of exploration.
1509
João da Nova