Tomé de Sousa
Tomé de Sousa | |
|---|---|
Statue of Tomé de Sousa at Tomé de Sousa Square, Salvador, Brazil | |
| 1st Governor-General of Brazil | |
| In office 1549–1553 | |
| Monarch | John III |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Duarte da Costa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1503 Rates, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Died | 1579 (aged 75–76) Kingdom of Portugal |
| Spouse | Maria da Costa |
| Children | Helena de Sousa Francisco de Sousa Garcia de Sousa Iria de Sousa Ana de Sousa |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Portuguese Empire |
Tomé de Sousa (1503–1579) was the first governor-general of the Portuguese colony of Brazil from 1549 until 1553. He was a nobleman and soldier born in Rates, Póvoa de Varzim. Sousa was born a noble and participated in military expeditions in Africa, fought the Moors and commanded the nau Conceição to Portuguese India, part of the armada of Fernão de Andrade.
Sousa was the first knight commander of the medieval Monastery of Rates, re-established in 1100 AD and dissolved in the 16th century.