Background
António Galvão was the son of Duarte Galvão, chief diplomat and chronicler to king Afonso V of Portugal.
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Antonio Galvao
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António Galvão, known in English as Antonio Galvano, was a Portuguese soldier, chronicler and administrator in the Maluku islands, and a Renaissance historian, the first to present a comprehensive report of all the leading voyages and explorers up to 1550, either by Portuguese and by other nationalities.
Career
In 1527 he sailed for Portuguese India where he became captain of the Maluku and governor of the fort of Ternate from 1536 to 1540. He is described in Chapter II of the Fifth Decade of Asia" as a respected governor, having sent a mission to Papua and receiving local embassies. He funded a seminar in Ternate, where he spent twelve thousand cruzados from the inheritance he had received from his father, and was known especially for his integrity.
In 1540 he handed the government of the fortress to Doctorate. Jorge de Castro and returned to Portugal, where he discovered to have fallen into disgrace.
He lived the last years in anonymity and poverty, in the Royal Hospital, awaiting a pension. There he died and was buried in 1557.
