João de, a celebrated Portuguese historian, born about 1496; died in 1570. In 1522, he was made governor of St George del Mina, on the coast of Guinea. Three years after, the king recalled him to court, and made him treasurer of the Indies. This appointment inspired him with the thought of writing the well-known and valuable history entitled Asia Portuguesa; the first decade of which he published in 1552, the second in 1553, and the third in 1563; the fourth was not published till 1615. Several authors have continued the work, so that it extends to twelve decades. A handsome edition of the original work, and its continuations, was published at Lisbon in 1774, in 11 vols. 8vo.