Vasco Da Gama was born in Sines, Portugal. Young Vasco da Gama joined the navy, where was taught how to navigate.
Known as a tough and fearless navigator, da Gama solidified his reputation as a reputable sailor when, in 1492, King John II of Portugal sent him to the south of Lisbon and then to the Algarve region of the country to defeat French ships as an act of vengeance against the French for disrupting Portuguese shipping.
In 1497, when he was 37, he was commissioned by the Portuguese king to find a maritime route to the East.
Historians know little about why exactly da Gama, still an inexperienced explorer, was chosen to lead the expedition to India in 1497.
They reached Calicut, India, on May 20. The local Hindu ruler welcomed da Gama and his men, at first, and the crew ended up staying in Calicut for three months. Not everyone embraced their presence, especially Muslim traders who clearly had no intention of giving up their trading grounds to Christian visitors. Eventually, da Gama and his crew were forced to barter on the waterfront in order to secure enough goods for the passage home. In August of 1498, da Gama and his men took to the seas again, beginning their journey back to Portugal.
When da Gama returned to Lisbon, he was greeted as a hero. In 1502, Vasco da Gama helmed another journey to India that included 20 ships. Ten of the ships were directly under his command, with his uncle and nephew helming the others.
Finally, on February 20, 1503, da Gama and his crew began to make their way home.
They reached Portugal on October 11 of that year.
At this time, he was married and was the father of six sons. Da Gama settled into retirement and family life. He stayed in contact with King Manuel, advising him on Indian matters, and was named Count of Vidigueira in 1519.
da Gama was asked to return to India. That same year, da Gama died in Cochin. His body was sent back to Portugal to be burried.
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