Jácome became a servant of Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal (the son of king John I), who initiated the so-called Portuguese Age of Discovery in the 15th century.
As a native of a city with a Kontor of the Hanseatic league, Jácome de Bruges had been exposed to well-ordered mercantilism, and he understood the value of international trade as a driver of national prosperity.
Jácome, arrived on the Iberian peninsula, with many of his compatriots on business, and lived in the northern city of Porto for at least ten years.
Yet, even with his efforts, and ten years, Jácome de Bruges was unable to fulfill his contract; this was confirmed by the donation letter of the islands of Terceira and Graciosa, made by Prince Henry to his nephew, the Infante D.
[4] The Infante Fernando then changed the colonial settlement strategy, sending people of confidence to the islands (ultimately the contract between Bruges and Henry expired and he returned to the continent).