List of Portuguese people
The following is a list of notable and historically significant people from Portugal.
Navigators, explorers and pioneers
15th century
- Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Álvaro Caminha (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- Álvaro Martins (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Alvise Cadamosto (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands and of the African coast)
- André Gonçalves (15th century explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
- Antão Gonçalves (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- António Fernandes (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- António Noli (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands and of the African coast)
- Bartolomeu Dias (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Bartolomeu Perestrelo (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- Dinis Dias (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Diogo Afonso (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands and of the African coast)
- Diogo Cão (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Diogo de Azambuja (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Diogo de Teive (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- Diogo Dias (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands, of the African coast and the Indian Ocean, discovered Madagascar)
- Diogo Silves (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- Duarte Pacheco Pereira (15th century explorer of the Atlantic)
- Fernão do Pó (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Gil Eanes (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Gonçalo Velho (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- João de Santarém (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- João Gonçalves Zarco (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- João Grego (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- João Infante (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- João Vaz Corte-Real (15th century explorer of North America)
- Lopes Gonçalves (15th century explorer of the Atlantic)
- Luís Pires (15th century explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
- Nicolau Coelho (15th century explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
- Nuno Tristão (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Paulo da Gama (15th century explorer of the sea route to India)
- Pedro Álvares Cabral (discoverer of Brazil in 1500)
- Pedro Escobar (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- Pêro de Alenquer (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Pêro de Sintra (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Pêro Dias (15th century explorer of the African coast)
- Pêro Vaz de Caminha (15th century explorer of the sea route to Brazil)
- Tristão Vaz Teixeira (15th century explorer of the Atlantic islands)
- Vasco da Gama (Lead the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498)
15th /16th century
- Afonso de Paiva (15th century/16th century diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia)
- Fernão de Noronha (15th century/16th century explorer of the Atlantic)
- Gaspar de Lemos (15th century/16th century explorer of the Atlantic and of the sea route to Brazil)
- Gonçalo Coelho (15th century/16th century explorer of the South American coast)
- João Fernandes Lavrador (15th century/16th century explorer of North America)
- Pero da Covilhã (15th century/16th century diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia and India)
- Pêro de Barcelos (15th century/16th century explorer of North America)
16th century
- Afonso de Albuquerque (16th century naval admiral and viceroy of India)
- António da Mota (16th century among the first to reach Japan)
- Antonio de Abreu (16th century explorer of Indonesia)
- António Peixoto (16th century among the first to reach Japan)
- Cristóvão Borralho (16th century among the first to reach Japan)
- Cristóvão de Mendonça (16th century, some have claimed he discovered Australia - highly disputed)
- Diogo Lopes de Sequeira (16th century explorer of the Indian Ocean)
- Diogo Rodrigues (16th century explorer of the Indian Ocean)
- Diogo Zeimoto (16th century among the first to reach Japan)
- Duarte Fernandes (16th century diplomat in Thailand)
- Estevão da Gama (16th century explorer of the Indian Ocean)
- Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan) (16th century Led the first successful attempt to circumnavigate the Earth (1519-1522). Explorer of the Pacific Ocean).
- Fernão Lopez (16th century soldier in India and first resident of the island of Saint Helena)
- Fernão Mendes Pinto (16th century among the first to reach Japan)
- Fernão Pires de Andrade (16th century merchant in China)
- Francisco Alvarez (16th century missionary and explorer in Ethiopia)
- Francisco de Almeida (16th century explorer and viceroy of India)
- Gaspar Corte-Real (16th century explorer of North America)
- Gomes de Sequeira (16th century, some have claimed he discovered Australia - highly disputed)
- João da Nova (16th century explorer of the Atlantic and of the Indian Ocean)
- Jorge Álvares (16th century the first to reach China)
- João Rodrigues Cabrilho (16th century discoverer of California)
- Lourenço Marques (16th century trader and explorer in East Africa)
- Martim Afonso de Sousa (16th century explorer and soldier in India)
- Miguel Corte-Real (16th century explorer of North America)
- Paulo Dias de Novais (16th century colonizer of Africa)
- Pedro Mascarenhas (16th century explorer of the Indian Ocean)
- Tristão da Cunha (16th century naval general and discoverer)
17th century
- Baltazar Fernandes (17th century explorer of Brazil's interior)
- David Melgueiro (17th century explorer of the Arctic)
- Jeronimo Lobo (17th century missionary and explorer of Ethiopia)
- Luis Váez de Torres (16th century/17th century explorer of south-west Pacific)
- Pedro Fernandes de Queiroz (16th century/17th century explorer of south-west Pacific, some have claimed he discovered Australia)
- Pedro Teixeira (17th century explorer of the Amazon River)
19th and 20th century
- Hermenegildo Capelo (19th century explorer of Africa)
- Roberto Ivens (19th century explorer of Africa)
- Serpa Pinto (19th century explorer of Africa)
- Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral (20th century the first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air)
- Carlos Bleck (20th century pioneer of aviation)
Saints
- Teotónio of Coimbra (1082-1162), Saint
- Anthony of Lisbon (1195-1231), Saint
- Gonçalo of Amarante (1187-1259), Saint
- Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336), Saint
- Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360-1431), Blessed
- Saint Joan Princess (1452-1490), Blessed
- Bartolomeu dos Mártires (1514-1590), Blessed
- Alexandrina of Balasar (1904-1955), Blessed
- Francisco Marto (1908-1919), Blessed
- Jacinta Marto (1910-1920), Blessed
- Ignacio de Azevedo (1528-1570), Blessed
Popes
Philosophers
- Damião de Góis (1502-1574)
- Uriel da Costa (1585-1640)
- Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677)
- Agostinho da Silva (1906-1996)
- Eduardo Abranches de Soveral (1957-2003)
- António Castanheira Neves (1929-)
- José Gil (1939-)
Musicians
- Adriano Correia de Oliveira (singer)
- Alfredo Keil (1850-1907) (composer of the Portuguese anthem)
- Amália Rodrigues (1920-1999) (the most famous fado singer)
- António Fragoso (1897-1918) (piano composer)
- António Variações (singer and songwriter)
- Carlos Paredes (1925-2004) (Portuguese guitar player)
- Carlos Seixas (composer)(1704-1742)
- Cláudio Carneiro (1895-1963) (composer)
- Cristina Branco (fado singer)
- Duarte Lobo (composer)
- Dulce Pontes (singer)
- Eduardo Lopes (1968) (Drummer, Educator)
- Ernesto Rodrigues (1959) (performer, composer)
- Fernando Lopes Graça (1906-1995) (composer)
- Isabel Soveral (composer)
- Fernando Ribeiro (Moonspell vocals)
- Francisco de Lacerda (1869-1934) (composer)
- Ignácio Parreiras Neves (composer) (1730-1794)
- Jerônimo de Souza Lôbo (composer) (? - 1810)
- João Domingos Bomtempo (1775-1842) (composer)
- Joaquim Joze Antunes (harpsichord maker) (1725-1790)
- Joe Raposo (composer and lyricist) (1937-1989)
- Jorge Palma (singer, pianist and songwriter)
- José Afonso (1929-1987) (aka Zeca Afonso, composer, player)
- Lúcia Moniz (singer/actress)
- Vianna da Mota (piano player, composer) (1868-1948)
- Madredeus (folk group)
- Mafalda Arnault (fado singer)
- Mariza (fado singer)
- Maria João Pires (piano player)
- Maria João (jazz singer)
- Mário Laginha (piano player)
- Mísia (fado singer)
- Nelly Furtado (singer)
- Moonspell (gothic metal band)
- Nuno Bettencourt (1966- ) (guitarist, songwriter, singer)
- Paulo Furtado (blues performer)
- Rui da Silva (dj)
- Rui Veloso (singer)
- Sara Carvalho (composer)
- Sara Tavares (singer)
- Vicente Lusitano (composer)
Poets and writers
- Agostinho da Silva (writer and philosopher)
- Agustina Bessa-Luís (writer)
- Al Berto (poet)
- Alberto Pimenta (writer and poet)
- Alexandre Herculano (writer)
- Alexandre O'Neill (poet)
- Alice Vieira (writer)
- Almada Negreiros (writer)
- Almeida Garrett (writer and playwright)
- Álvaro Cunhal (neo-realist writer)
- Alves Redol (neo-realist writer)
- Antero de Quental (writer)
- António Alçada Baptista (writer)
- António Gedeão (poet)
- António Lobo Antunes (writer)
- António Nobre (poet)
- Ary dos Santos (poet)
- Aquilino Ribeiro (neo-realist writer)
- Branquinho da Fonseca (writer)
- Bulhão Pato (writer)
- Camilo Castelo Branco (writer)
- Camilo Pessanha (poet)
- Carlos de Oliveira (writer)
- Cesário Verde (poet)
- Daniel Sampaio (writer and psychiatrist)
- David Mourão-Ferreira (writer)
- Dinis Machado (writer)
- Eça de Queirós (writer)
- Eugénio de Andrade (poet)
- Fernando Pessoa (poet)
- Florbela Espanca (poet)
- Gil Vicente (playwright)
- Gonçalo Tavares (writer)
- Guerra Junqueiro (writer)
- Hélia Correia (writer)
- Herberto Helder (poet)
- Inês Pedrosa (writer)
- Ivete Centeno (poet)
- Jacinto Lucas Pires (writer)
- João Aguiar (writer)
- João Barrento (writer)
- João Bénard da Costa (writer)
- João de Barros (writer and historian)
- Jorge de Sena (writer and poet)
- José Cardoso Pires (writer)
- José Gomes Ferreira (writer)
- José Saramago (Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998)
- Luís de Camões (poet, author of Os Lusíadas)
- Luís Lopes (writer)
- Manuel Alegre de Melo Duarte (poet, writer and politician)
- Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage (poet)
- Mário Cesariny de Vasconcelos (poet)
- Mário de Sá-Carneiro (novelist and poet)
- Miguel Torga (poet and writer)
- Orlando da Costa (poet and playwright)
- Ramalho Ortigão (writer)
- Rosa Lobato Faria (writer)
- Rui Miguel Saramago (poet and writer)
- Rui Knopfli (poet)
- Rui Zink (writer)
- Ruy Belo (poet)
- Sampaio Bruno (writer)
- Sarah Beirão (writer)
- Soeiro Pereira Gomes (neo-realist writer)
- Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (poet and writer)
- Teófilo de Braga (literary historian)
- Teolinda Gersão (writer)
- Tolentino Mendonça (poet)
- Trindade Coelho (writer)
- Urbano Tavares Rodrigues (writer and journalist)
- Vasco Graça Moura (writer)
- Vasco Pulido Valente (historian and critic)
- Vergílio Ferreira (writer)
- Vitorino Nemésio (poet)
Artists
- Almada Negreiros(1893-1970) (20th century painter)
- José Dias Coelho (20th century artist)
- José Malhoa (19th century painter)
- Nuno Gonçalves (15th century painter)
- Paula Rego (20th century painter)
- Vasco Fernandes (Grão Vasco)(15th century painter)
- Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (20th century painter)
- Manuel Pereira da Silva (1920-2003) (20th century sculptor)
Scientists
- Corino de Andrade (1906 -2005, neurologist)
- António Damásio (1944-, neurologist)
- Bento de Jesus Caraça (1901-1948, mathematician)
- Almeida Lima (neurologist)
- Egas Moniz (1854-1955, neurologist, Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1949)
- Garcia de Orta (botanical scientist)
- João Magueijo (physicist)
- Pedro Nunes (1502-1578)
Engineers and architects
- Edgar Cardoso (expert in bridge engineering)
- Álvaro Siza Vieira (1933-) (architect)
- Tomás Taveira (1938-) (architect)
- Eduardo Souto de Moura (architect)
- João Luís Carrilho da Graca (architect)
- Gonçalo Sousa Byrne (architect)
- António Segadães Tavares (engineer, "Outstanding Structure Award 2004" winner)
- José Tribolet (engineer, IST professor)
Psychiatrists
- Daniel Sampaio
- José Augusto Seco Machado Gil (1953-1996)
- Henrique Barahona Fernandes
- João dos Santos
- José Luís Simões da Fonseca
Actors and directors
- Alexandra Lencastre
- Manoel de Oliveira (1908-) (film director)
- Carmen Miranda (1914-1955) (singer and actress)
- Beatriz Costa (actress)
- António Silva (actor)
- Laura Alves (actress)
- Maria de Medeiros (actress)
- Nuno Lopes (actor)
- Beatriz Batarda (actress)
- Joaquim de Almeida (1957-) (actor)
- Luís Miguel Cintra (1948-)
Sports
- Luís Figo (1972-) (football player)
- Rui Costa (1972-) (football player)
- Vítor Baía (1969-) (football player)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (1985-) (football player)
- Maniche (1977-) (football player)
- Costinha (1974-) (football player)
- Francis Obikwelu (nigerian born runner)
- Ticha Penicheiro (WNBA player)
- Mery Andrade (WNBA player)
- Tiago Monteiro (Formula One driver)
- Pedro Lamy (former Formula One and DTM driver)
- Carlos Sousa (off road driver, world champion in 2003)
- José Azevedo (cyclist)
- Joaquim Agostinho (cyclist)
- Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (1943-) (football player)
- Carlos Lopes (1947-) (marathon olympic champion)
- Rosa Mota (1958-) (marathon olympic champion)
- Fernanda Ribeiro (1969-) (10,000m olympic champion)
- Paulo Futre (football player)
- Paulo Sousa (football player)
- Carlos Queiróz (football coach)
- José Mourinho (football coach)
Politicians
- Anton de Vieira (1682-1745, governor of St Petersburg and Okhotsk)
- Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal (1699-1782)
- António de Oliveira Salazar (1889-1970, dictator)
- Marcelo Caetano (1906-1980, dictator)
- Álvaro Cunhal (1913-2005) (former General Secretary of the PCP)
- Bento Gonçalves (1902-1942) (former General Secretary of the PCP)
- Carlos Carvalhas (1941-) (former General Secretary of the PCP)
- Jerónimo de Sousa (1947 -) (General Secretary of the PCP)
- Octávio Pato (1925 - 1999)
- Vasco Gonçalves (1922 - 2005) (former Prime Minister)
- Mário Soares (1924-) (former Prime Minister and President of the Republic)
- Carlos Alberto da Mota Pinto (1936-1985) (former Prime Minister)
- Francisco Sá Carneiro (1934-1980) (former Prime Minister)
- Aníbal Cavaco Silva (economist, former Prime Minister, current President of the Republic)
- António Guterres (former Prime Minister, current president of the Socialist International and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
- José Manuel Durão Barroso (former Prime Minister, current president of the EU Commission)
- Jorge Sampaio (former President of the Republic)
- Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança (claimant to the abolished throne of Portugal)
- Diogo Freitas do Amaral (former president of the General Assembly of the United Nations, current Minister of Foreign Affairs)
- António Vitorino (former Minister and EU Commissionar)
- José Sócrates (current Prime Minister)
- Pedro Santana Lopes (former Prime Minister, former Mayor of Lisbon)
- Teresa Heinz Kerry (philanthropist and the wife of U.S. Senator John Kerry)
Other
- Emeril Lagasse (1959- ) (Celebrity Chef, Restauranteur)
- Meredith Vieira