Francisco Barreto

Francisco Barreto
Portrait in Livro de Lisuarte de Abreuc. 1560.
Governor of India
In office
1555–1558
MonarchsJohn III
Sebastian
Preceded byPedro Mascarenhas
Succeeded byConstantino de Bragança
Personal details
Born1520
Faro, Kingdom of Portugal
Died9 July 1573(1573-07-09) (aged 52–53)
Portuguese Mozambique
SpouseBrites de Ataíde

Francisco Barreto (occasionally Francisco de Barreto, 1520 – 9 July 1573) was a Portuguese soldier and explorer. An officer in Morocco during his early life, Barreto sailed to Portuguese India and was eventually appointed viceroy of the colony. After his return to Lisbon, he was tasked with an expedition to southeast Africa in search of legendary gold mines. Barreto died in what is now Mozambique, having never reached the mines.