The following is a list of notable and historically significant people from Portugal.
Navigators, explorers and pioneers
15th century
Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia, explorer of the African coast Álvaro Caminha, explorer of the Atlantic islands Álvaro Martins, explorer of the African coast Alvise Cadamosto, explorer of the Atlantic islands and of the African coast André Gonçalves, explorer of the sea route to Brazil Antão Gonçalves, explorer of the African coast Álvaro Fernandes, explorer of the African coast Bartolomeu Dias, explorer of the African coast Bartolomeu Perestrelo, explorer of the Atlantic islands Dinis Dias, explorer of the African coast Diogo Cão, explorer of the African coast Diogo de Azambuja, explorer of the African coast Diogo de Teive, explorer of the Atlantic islands Diogo Dias, explorer of the Atlantic islands, of the African coast and the Indian Ocean, discovered Madagascar Diogo Silves, explorer of the Atlantic islands Duarte Pacheco Pereira, explorer of the Atlantic Fernão do Pó, explorer of the African coast Gil Eanes, explorer of the African coast Gonçalo Velho, explorer of the Atlantic islands João de Santarém, explorer of the Atlantic islands João Gonçalves Zarco, explorer of the Atlantic islands João Grego, explorer of the African coast João Infante, explorer of the African coast João Vaz Corte-Real, explorer of North America Lopes Gonçalves, explorer of the Atlantic Nicolau Coelho, explorer of the sea route to Brazil Nuno Tristão, explorer of the African coast Paulo da Gama, explorer of the sea route to India Pedro Álvares Cabral, discoverer of Brazil in 1500 Pedro Escobar, explorer of the Atlantic islands Pero de Alenquer, explorer of the African coast Pero de Sintra, explorer of the African coast Pero Dias, explorer of the African coast Pero Vaz de Caminha, explorer of the sea route to Brazil Tristão Vaz Teixeira, explorer of the Atlantic islands Vasco da Gama, led the discovery of the sea route to India in 1498
15th/16th century Afonso de Paiva, diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia Fernão de Noronha, explorer of the Atlantic Gaspar de Lemos, explorer of the Atlantic and of the sea route to Brazil Gonçalo Coelho, explorer of the South American coast João Fernandes Lavrador, explorer of North America Pero da Covilhã, diplomat and explorer in Ethiopia and India Pero de Barcelos, explorer of North America Francisco Zeimoto, explorer and trader one of the first to reach Japan
16th century Afonso de Albuquerque, naval admiral and viceroy of India António de Abreu, explorer of Indonesia António Mota, among the first to reach Japan Bento de Góis, explorer Cristóvão Jacques, explorer of the Brazilian coast Cristóvão de Mendonça, some have claimed he discovered Australia; this is disputed Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, explorer of the Indian Ocean Diogo Rodrigues, explorer of the Indian Ocean Duarte Fernandes, diplomat in Thailand Estevão da Gama, explorer of the Indian Ocean Fernão Lopez, soldier in India and first resident of the island of Saint Helena Fernão Mendes Pinto, among the first to reach Japan Fernão Pires de Andrade, merchant in China Francisco Álvares, missionary and explorer in Ethiopia Francisco de Almeida, explorer and viceroy of India Gaspar Corte-Real, explorer of North America Gomes de Sequeira, some claim he discovered Australia; this is disputed João da Nova, explorer of the Atlantic and of the Indian Ocean Jorge Álvares, the first to reach China João Rodrigues Cabrilho, discoverer of California Lourenço Marques, trader and explorer in East Africa Martim Afonso de Sousa, explorer and soldier in India Miguel Corte-Real, explorer of North America Paulo Dias de Novais, colonizer of Africa Pedro Mascarenhas, explorer of the Indian Ocean Tristão da Cunha, naval general and discoverer Ferdinand Magellan, led the first successful attempt to circumnavigate the Earth (1519–1522); explorer of the Pacific Ocean
17th century Estêvão Cacella, missionary and explorer of Tibet, first European in Bhutan Baltasar Fernandes, explorer of Brazil's interior Jerónimo Lobo, missionary and explorer of Ethiopia Luís Vaz de Torres, 16th-century/17th-century explorer of south-west Pacific Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, 16th-century/17th-century explorer of south-west Pacific, some claim he discovered Australia Pedro Teixeira, explorer of the Amazon River António Raposo Tavares, bandeirante
18th century Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira, explorer of Brazil's interior Francisco de Lacerda, explorer of Africa
19th century Alexandre de Serpa Pinto, explorer of Africa António da Silva Porto, explorer of Africa Hermenegildo Capelo, explorer of Africa Roberto Ivens, explorer of Africa
20th century
Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral, first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air
Monarchs
Monarchs of Portugal
Saints
Amador of Portugal (Early Christianity) Anthony of Lisbon (1195–1231) Beatrice of Silva (1424–1490) Elizabeth of Portugal (1271–1336) Felix the Hermit (9th century) Francisco Marto (1908–1919) Fructuosus of Braga (7th century) Irene of Tomar (7th century) Jacinta Marto (1910–1920) John de Brito (1647–1693) John of God (1495–1550) Julia (3rd century) Mantius of Évora (Early Christianity) Martin of Braga (520–580) Maxima (3rd century) Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360–1431) Peter of Rates (1st century) Quiteria (5th century) Rita Amada de Jesus (1848–1913) Rudesind (10th century) Saint Ovidius (1st and 2nd centuries) Theotonius (1088–1166) Verissimus (3rd century) Wilgefortis (folk saint)
Blessed
Alexandrina of Balasar (1904–1955) Amadeus of Portugal (1420–1482) Bartolomeu dos Mártires (1514–1590) Ferdinand the Holy Prince (1402–1443) Inácio de Azevedo (1528–1570) Joan, Princess of Portugal (1452–1490) Mafalda of Portugal (1190–1256) Sancha of Portugal (1180–1229) Teresa of Portugal (1181–1250) Elizabeth of Portugal (1282–1325)
Religious António de Andrade (1580–1634), missionary, explorer of Tibet António Vieira (1608–1697), writer, diplomat and preacher João Ferreira Annes de Almeida (1628–1691), missionary Luís Fróis, jesuit and missionary in Japan Paulo António de Carvalho e Mendonça (1702–1770), priest and cardinal, Inquisitor-General of the Holy Inquisition Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos (1907–2005), visionary, involved in the 1917 Fátima events Paulus Orosius (385–420), historian, theologian and disciple of St. Augustine
Popes
Damasus I, 4th-century pope John XXI, 13th-century pope
Philosophers Agostinho da Silva (1906–1994) António Castanheira Neves (born 1929) António Sérgio (1883–1969) Damião de Góis (1502–1574) Eduardo Lourenço (1923–2020) José Gil (born 1939)
Musicians
Adriano Correia de Oliveira (1942–1982), singer Alfredo Keil (1850–1907), composer of the Portuguese anthem Ana Free (born 1987), singer Ana Moura (born 1979), singer, fadista António Zambujo (born 1975), singer, fadista Alfredo Marceneiro (1891–1982), fado singer Amália Rodrigues (1920–1999), the most famous fado singer António Fragoso (1897–1918), piano composer António Pinho Vargas (born 1951), classical, jazz and piano composer António Variações (1944–1984), singer-songwriter Aurea, singer Camané (born 1967), singer, fadista Carlos do Carmo (1939–2021), singer, fadista Carlos Paredes (1925–2004), Portuguese guitar player Carlos Seixas (1704–1742), composer Cristina Branco (born 1972), fado singer Danny Fernandes, singer David Fonseca (born 1973), singer Diogo Piçarra, singer DJ Vibe, DJ Duarte Lobo (1565–1646), composer Dulce Pontes (born 1969), singer Fernando Lopes Graça (1906–1995), composer Fernando Ribeiro (born 1974), Moonspell vocals Francisco d'Andrade (1856–1921), international opera baritone Guilhermina Suggia (1885–1950), cellist Isabel Soveral (born 1961), composer Jay Kay (born 1969), singer; Portuguese father João Domingos Bomtempo (1775–1842), composer Joaquim José Antunes (1725–1790), harpsichord maker Jorge Palma (born 1950), singer, pianist and songwriter José Afonso (1929–1987), aka Zeca Afonso, composer, player Luciana Abreu (born 1985), singer, composer, actress, TV host Lúcia Moniz (born 1976), singer, actress Luís de Freitas Branco (1890–1955), composer Luísa Todi (1753–1833), lyrical singer Mafalda Arnauth (born 1974), fado singer Malvina Garrigues (1825–1904), opera soprano Manuela Azevedo, singer Maria Ascensão (1926–2001), folklorist Maria João Pires (born 1944), piano player Maria João (born 1956), jazz singer Mário Laginha (born 1960), piano player Mariza (born 1973), fado singer Mísia, fado singer Nelly Furtado, singer Nuno Bettencourt (born 1966), guitarist, singer-songwriter Paulo Furtado, blues performer Pedro de Escobar (c. 1465 – 1535), composer Rita Guerra (born 1967), singer Rita Redshoes, singer Rui da Silva, disc jockey Rui Gomes de Briteiros (1190? - 1249), troubadour Rui Veloso (born 1957), singer Salvador Sobral (born 1989), singer Sara Tavares (born 1978), singer Shawn Desman, singer Shawn Mendes, singer Sérgio Godinho (born 1948), singer Steve Perry, lead singer of band Journey Teresa Salgueiro (born 1969), Madredeus vocals José Vianna da Motta (1868–1948), piano player, composer Vitorino (born 1942), singer
Writers
Fictionists Agustina Bessa-Luís Alexandre Herculano Almeida Garrett, also a poet and playwright Alves Redol, neo-realist writer António Lobo Antunes Aquilino Ribeiro, neo-realist writer Bernardim Ribeiro Camilo Castelo Branco Carlos de Oliveira Eça de Queiroz Gonçalo M. Tavares Hélia Correia Inês Pedrosa Irene Lisboa (1892–1958) João Aguiar, writer José Cardoso Pires José Rodrigues Miguéis (1901–1980), writer José Saramago, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998 Júlio Dinis Mário de Sá-Carneiro, novelist and poet Miguel Torga, also a poet Ramalho Ortigão Raul Brandão (1867–1930) Soeiro Pereira Gomes, neo-realist writer Vergílio Ferreira Vitorino Nemésio Poets Ana Luísa Amaral Antero de Quental António Nobre Camilo Pessanha Cesário Verde David Mourão-Ferreira Eugénio de Andrade Fernando Pessoa, poet writer philosopher, described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century Fiama Hasse Pais Brandão, poet and writer Guerra Junqueiro, poet and writer Herberto Hélder Jorge de Sena, writer and poet José Gomes Ferreira, writer Luís Vaz de Camões, poet, playwright Manuel Alegre, poet, writer and politician Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage Sá de Miranda Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen Teixeira de Pascoaes Vasco Graça Moura Others Agostinho da Silva, writer and philosopher Alice Vieira, children's books writer Almada Negreiros Álvaro Cunhal, neo-realist writer Álvaro Magalhães, writer Ana de Castro Osório, writer and pioneer feminist André de Resende, writer António Ferreira (poet) António José da Silva, playwright António Vieira (1608–1697), preacher and writer Damião de Góis, writer Eduardo Lourenço Fernão Lopes (c. 1380–1458), royal chronicler Gil Vicente, playwright Gomes Eanes de Zurara, chronicler João de Barros, writer and historian Luiz Pacheco (1925–2008), writer and editor Natália Correia, writer and poet Raul Proença (1884–1941), writer Rosa Lobato Faria, writer Rui de Pina, chronicler Tomé Pires (1465–1540), author of the Suma Oriental Urbano Tavares Rodrigues, writer and journalist
Artists
Sofia Areal, painter Almada Negreiros (1893–1970), 20th-century painter Amadeo de Souza Cardoso (1887–1918), 20th-century painter Ana Dias (born 1984), photographer of erotic femininity António Soares dos Reis (1847–1889), 19th-century sculptor Aurélia de Souza (1865–1922), 19th/20th-century painter Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857–1929), 19th/20th-century painter Eduardo Gageiro (1935–2025), 20th-century photographer and photojournalist Fernando Lanhas (1923–2012), 20th/21st-century painter and architect