Whaling, opportunity led Portuguese immigration to Taunton area

Immigrant groups came here through different routes, whaling brought this group. - - Donna Poisl

By Marc Larocque, Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter

The first major migration of Portuguese people to southeastern Massachusetts and the Taunton area can be explained by the whaling industry, according to the director of the Center for Portuguese Studies at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Professor Frank Sousa said an influx of Portuguese immigrants began appearing in this region in the late 18th century as a result of New England whaling ships with ports in New Bedford, which traveled the sea in routes that came across the Portuguese Archipelago of the Azores.
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