Word Origin and History of Rio de Janeiro: "1) A port in southeast Brazil, on Guanabara Bay: the country's chief port and its capital from 1763 to 1960; backed by mountains, notably Sugar Loaf Mountain; founded by the French in 1555 and taken by the Portuguese in 1567. Population: 11,469,000 (2005 estimate). "2) A state of east Brazil. Capital: Rio de Janeiro. Population: 14,724,475 (2002). Area: 42,911 sq km (16,568 sq mi). "Literally 'January River', named by explorer Amerigo Vespucci because he discovered it on January 1, 1502, and so called because he incorrectly thought the bay was the estuary of a large river." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/rio-de-janeiro Sir George Saunton; An Historical Account of the Embassy to the Emperor of China, Undertaken by Order of the King of Great Britain: Including the Manners & Customs of the Inhabitants & Preceded by an Account of the Causes of the Embassy & Voyage to China. Abridged Principally from the Papers of Earl Macartney, as Comp; J Stockdale; 1797 Sir George Saunton writes: "The whole of the Brazils is divided into eight governments; the revenue is estimated at about a million sterling; of which one third was consumed in the expences of administration. The principal seat of government, and chief mart for commerce, was formerly at Bahia dos Todos os Santos; but the discovery of the diamond and gold mines, within a hundred leagues of Rio de Janeiro, caused its removal to this place, whose governor has the title of Viceroy."