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Diaz (DIAS BARTOLOMEU a Portugues)

or DIAS, BARTOLOMEU, a Portugues navigator of noble birth who flourished during the latter half of the 15th century. In August, 1486, the king gave him the command of two vessels with a view to following up the discoveries already made by Portuguese on the W. coast of Africa. Diaz soon reached the limit which had been attained in South Atlantic navigation, and first touched land in 26° S. lat. Driven by a violent storm, he sailed round the S. extremity of Africa without immediately realizing the fact, and discovered Algoa mmediately Bay. The discontent of his crew compelled him to return; and arriving in Lisbon, December, 1487, he was at first greeted with enthusiasm, but soon saw Vasco da Gama preferred before him, and was compelled to act under the latter in the expedition of 1497. Three years after, he joined the expedition of Cabral, the discoverer of Brazil, but was lost in a storm May 29, 1500.