António de Andrade was a Portuguese explorer and missionary who is best known for his exploration of the Himalayas in the early 17th century. He was born in 1580 in the Portuguese city of Viseu and was the son of a wealthy merchant. He was educated in the Jesuit school of Coimbra and was ordained as a priest in 1602.
In 1624, Andrade was sent to India as a missionary by the Portuguese viceroy, Francisco de Almeida. He arrived in Goa and soon became involved in the Portuguese colonial administration. He was appointed as the head of the Portuguese mission in the region and was responsible for the conversion of the local population to Christianity.
In 1626, Andrade set out on an expedition to explore the Himalayas. He was accompanied by two other Portuguese priests, Father Manuel Marques and Father João Cabral. The expedition was funded by the Portuguese viceroy and was intended to find a route to China.
The expedition was a success and Andrade and his companions were the first Europeans to reach the Himalayas. They reached the Tibetan city of Lhasa in 1627 and were welcomed by the local ruler, the Dalai Lama. Andrade was able to establish diplomatic relations between Portugal and Tibet and was able to secure trading rights for the Portuguese.
Andrade and his companions returned to Goa in 1629. He was appointed as the head of the Portuguese mission in Tibet and was responsible for the conversion of the local population to Christianity. He also established a number of schools and hospitals in the region.
Andrade returned to Portugal in 1634 and was appointed as the head of the Portuguese mission in India. He was responsible for the conversion of the local population to Christianity and for the establishment of schools and hospitals. He also wrote a number of books about his travels and his experiences in India and Tibet.
Andrade died in 1648 in Lisbon. He is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of Portuguese exploration and missionary work. His exploration of the Himalayas opened up a new route to China and helped to establish diplomatic relations between Portugal and Tibet. He is also remembered for his work in India and for his contribution to the spread of Christianity in the region.