Gaspar Frutuoso was born on the Island of São Miguel (Ponta Delgada, 1522 — Ribeira Grande, c. 1591), the son of Frutuoso Dias, merchant and landowner; and his wife Isabel Fernandes. He was an Azorean historian, priest and humanist.
Bachelor of Arts and Theology from the University of Salamanca and Doctor of Theology, he stood out for his authorship of "Saudades da Terra" (6 books, 8 volumes) - the first work on comparative insular “history” on the archipelagos of the Canaries, Madeira and, mainly, the Azores.
He was a priest in the parish of Santa Cruz, at the then Vila of Lagoa, where there are records he made for the years 1558 to 1560. In 1560 he left for Salamanca, perhaps to obtain a doctorate. In that same year, he moved to Bragança, becoming a close collaborator of Bishop D. Julião de Alva, remaining there until 1563. By letter of confirmation of May 20, 1565, he was appointed vicar and preacher of the Church of Our Lady da Estrela from the then Vila of Ribeira Grande, a position he held for 26 years until his death.
