André Pessoa was born in 1560, Azambuja, Portugal.[1] He was the son of Lourenço Pessoa and Francisca Calado.[1][2]
Career
Early career
Pessoa began his military career at a young age, traveling to India in 1577.[1] He returned to Europe shortly thereafter and, in 1583, participated in an expedition to the Azores, where he fought against the supporters of Prior of Crato, the pretender to the Portuguese throne.[2]
In Malacca, 1584–1606
In 1584, he returned to the East with the Secretary of the Factory at Malacca. He participated in the siege of Malacca and a second battle in 1606, where he was captured but later ransomed for 6,000 ducats. His contribution during one of the battles was referenced by Faria e Sousa.[2]
In Macau, 1608–1609
In 1608 or 1609 in, a red seal ship belonging to Arima Harunobu anchored in Macau.[3] After an attack on a Portuguese magistrate and his men, Pessoa, now Captain-major, ordered his crew to intervene.[4][5]
Pessoa blamed the Japanese for the incident, however, Ieyasu blamed Pessoa, but he was hesitant to take drastic action, as it would result in the loss of the silk trade.[6]
In Japan and death, 1609–1610
The following year, in June 29, 1609, Pessoa commanded the Portuguese carrack Nossa Senhora da Graça (also known as Madre de Deus) on a voyage to Japan and arrived in Nagasaki.[5][7] On January 3, 1610, the ship was besieged by forces under Arima Harunobu, seeking retribution for the previous incident in Macau. After days of intense conflict, Pessoa, facing overwhelming odds, chose to scuttle the ship by setting the gunpowder storage on fire, resulting in its destruction. Pessoa's body was never found.[8]
Boxer, C. R. (1979) [1st. pub. 1929]. "The affair of the Madre de Deus". In Moscato, Michael (ed.). Papers on Portuguese, Dutch, and Jesuit Influences in 16th- and 17th-Century Japan: Writings of Charles Ralph Boxer. Washington, D.C.: University Publications of America. pp. 4–94. ISBN0890932557.
