Hermenegildo Capelo
Portuguese Naval officer and explorer (1841–1917)
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Key Takeaways
- Hermenegildo de Brito Capelo (1841–1917) was a Portuguese officer in the Portuguese Navy and an explorer, who helped to chart territory between Angola and Mozambique that was unknown to Europeans in the 1870s and 1880s.
- Hermenegildo Capelo later rose to become aide-de-camp to King Luis I of Portugal and afterwards to King Carlos I and, later still, vice-admiral.
- Early life Hermenegildo de Brito Capelo was born in Palmela, Portugal, a town about 25 km (16 mi) south of Lisbon.
- His father, Major Félix António de Gomes Capelo, was the Governor of the Castle of Palmela.
- In 1860, Capelo sailed to Angola, in southwest Africa, and served on board the D Estefânia as a member of the Portuguese Navy, which was commanded by Prince Luís, staying for three years at a naval station before returning to Lisbon in 1863.
Hermenegildo de Brito Capelo (1841–1917) was a Portuguese officer in the Portuguese Navy and an explorer, who helped to chart territory between Angola and Mozambique that was unknown to Europeans in the 1870s and 1880s. Alongside Roberto Ivens, he is famous for being the first European to cross Central Africa from coast to coast between Angola and Mozambique.
Hermenegildo Capelo later rose to become aide-de-camp to King Luis I of Portugal and afterwards to King Carlos I and, later still, vice-admiral. His military career ended in 1910, when King Manuel II of Portugal was exiled.
Early life
Hermenegildo de Brito Capelo was born in Palmela, Portugal, a town about 25 km (16 mi) south of Lisbon. He was born into a prominent scientific and naval family. His father, Major Félix António de Gomes Capelo, was the Governor of the Castle of Palmela. Among his siblings were notable figures in Portuguese science and exploration: António de Brito Capelo (1828–1879), a biologist and oceanographer who pioneered studies on fish and spiders, discovering several new species; Guilherme Augusto de Brito Capelo (1839–1926), a scientist and Vice-Admiral in the Portuguese Navy who also held colonial administrative roles including Governor of Angola; João Carlos de Brito Capelo (1831 – 1901) a naval officer, hydrographer, and pioneering meteorologist. He is remembered as a founding figure in Portuguese geophysical sciences, particularly meteorology, magnetism, and solar photography.
In 1860, Capelo sailed to Angola, in southwest Africa, and served on board the D Estefânia as a member of the Portuguese Navy, which was commanded by Prince Luís, staying for three years at a naval station before returning to Lisbon in 1863. He sailed to Africa again in 1866, visiting Angola, where he remained until 1869.
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