[3] The humanist friar Gaspar Frutuoso recounted that the first explorers did not find an uninhabited island, and that a hermit, who had a small flock and lived in a cave in the interior, had occupied the land.

Around this time, Valentim Fernandes da Morávia, a German intellectual and translator residing in Lisbon, gave the first account relating to the settlement of the island.

He wrote that Friar Pedro, the queen's confessor, traveled with the Infanta Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, to Flanders, where he met and developed a friendship with the nobleman Josse van Huerter.

His compatriots were angered by the lack of the promised precious metals, and van Huerter quickly escaped to Flanders and the court of the Duchess of Burgundy.

[citation needed] In 1467, Huerter returned to Faial on a new expedition, supported by the Duchess, who "ordered men and women of all conditions, as well as priests to convey their religious orders, in addition to ships loaded with furniture and utensils necessary for the land and construction of houses, and she sent them for two years, with everything they needed for subsistence" (according to a caption made by the German geographer Martin Behaim on the Nuremberg Globe).

Infante D. Fernando, the Duke of Viseu and Master of the Order of Christ, gave Van Huerter the title of Captain-Major[note 3] of the island.

He convinced a second group of settlers, under the Flemish nobleman Willem van der Haegen (later known as Guilherme da Silveira) to bring his compatriots, their families, and support staff to the island in 1467.

Charles William Dabney, the American entrepreneur (1794–1871), was responsible for the growth of the industry of the islands with whaling, wine, and orange exports predominating.

A philanthropic figure, Dabney was responsible for cultivating the economy of the island and supporting its population, aiding agriculture, and generating markets abroad for their goods.

Communities of the northern and western coasts were harshly affected by the eruption, as agricultural lands were untillable and covered with sand and ash.

This led to the migration of 4,000 people to the United States, spearheaded by members of the Portuguese diaspora in New England and Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy.

In addition, whaling, as a viable commercial enterprise was slowly curtailed with innovations in the chemical sector and the influence of animal-rights groups.

Although formed by complex volcanological events, the current landmass is dominated by the crater of its central stratovolcano with relatively gently sloping flanks, showing little sign of major erosion.

It has very mild winters for its latitude, in part due to its location in the mid-Atlantic Ocean and influence from the Gulf Stream, averaging 14 °C (57 °F) in its coldest month, February, and frosts never occur other than at high altitude.

[15] In a communiqué to the Rebikoff–Niggeler Foundation, the group suggested that the reef formation was an important first discovery for the submarine team, which was located in the waters of the Azores since 1994, in order to document sea depth.

Operationally, there are thirteen civil parishes with their own assemblies, three of which (Angústias, Matriz, and Conceição) constitute the principal urbanized core: The remainder of the parishes (except Flamengos) circle the island, all linked by the regional road network and its ancillary roads: Numerous earthquakes and seismic events have impacted Faial throughout its populated history.

Then, on August 31 at 8:42, a new earthquake caused eight deaths and destroyed buildings in Horta, as well as the parishes of Conceição, Praia do Almoxarife (ruining 220 homes), Flamengos, Feteira, and Castelo Branco, Salao, and most of the Lomba do Pilar.

The 1998 Azores earthquake on July 9, which shook the islands of Faial, Pico, and São Jorge at 07:19 (its epicentre north-northeast of Faial), measured 5.6 on the Richter scale and caused damage to the parishes of Riberinha, Pedro Miguel, Salão, and Cedros, as well as more extensive damage in Castelo Branco (mainly Lombega), Flamengos, and Praia do Almoxarife.

Faial's early economic growth was propelled by the cultivation and processing of woad, a blue-coloured dye produced from the plant Isatis tinctoria.

It was the only source for blue dye until the end of the 16th century,[citation needed] when Portuguese trade routes started bringing indigo from the Far East.

The main agricultural commodities of the island are potatoes, cereals, fruits, and wines, along with cattle (which make up its dairy and meat industry).

After Portugal entered into the European Economic Community (EEC), the standard of living rapidly grew and today the population is generally prosperous.

Similarly, in Largo Jaime Melo in Horta, people gather from around the island to enjoy picnics, and other diversions (such as band music and/or singers).

Other types of handiwork traditionally created on the island include straw embroideries on tulle, flowers made from fish scales, decorations in cut paper, as well as crochet lace-work with characteristic motifs [citation needed].