Gaspar Corte-Real, the youngest of three sons of João Vaz Corte-Real, also a Portuguese explorer, had accompanied his father on his expeditions to North America.

His brothers are also explorers.

King Manuel I of Portugal had in 1500 sent Gaspar to discover lands and search for a Northwest Passage to Asia.

He had reached Greenland, believing it to be east Asia, but chose not to land.

He sets out on a second voyage to Greenland in 1501, with his brother Miguel Corte-Real and three caravels.

Encountering frozen sea, they change course to the south and reach land, believed to be Newfoundland.

Here they capture fifty-seven native men, who will later be sold as slaves.

Gaspar then sends his brother and two ships back to Portugal before continuing southwards.

Nothing more is heard of Gaspar Corte-Real after 1501.

His brother Miguel will attempt to find him in 1502, but he too will never return, although two of the three ships return to Portugal after they are separated.

He is thought to have perished in a storm.

The sole surviving brother, Vasco Anes Corte-Real, will ask to sail in search of his brothers, but the King of Portugal will not fund such an expedition.