LISBON-INFO.NET - Key Persons
Adolfo Correia da Rocha was born into a humble family in 1907 in the district of Vila Real. His early education was from the church and later in 1920 he emigrated to Brazil. Here he worked with his uncle in the coffee trade but continued with his studies. In 1925 he returned to Portugal and attended Coimbra University to read medicine. Upon qualifying he started a practice in the same city and commenced writing. He published many poems and sonnets under the pen-name Miguel Torga. He died in 1995.
Born in 1810 in Lisbon, and died in 1877. Besides being a writer of great note his life was a pattern of other pursuits. His strong liberal point of view placed him at severe odds with those in power most of his life. By the age of 21 years he was already forced into political exile in Plymouth, England, and later in Rennes, in France. He trained to become a professional soldier and fought in several battles. He applied his combat skills to everyday life, yet, his works were poetical in content and he was influential in introducing into Portuguese literature a romantic historical style of writing. During his lifetime he held many posts, from Director of Municipal Library of Porto to a Deputy in Parliament. Influenced by his political beliefs his many works unveiled a completely different view on many of the recorded past historical events in Portugal.
Alexandre Manuel Vahia de Castro O´Neil de Bulhões was born in 1924 and died in 1986. A poet of sensitive extremes he was a strong influence in the Portuguese Surrealist Movement that was founded in the middle of the 1940s. His writings were complementary to his open strong personality, combining truthful force with ironic or sarcastic humour.
Born in 1920 in Lisbon and died in 1999. Amália de Piedade Rebordão Rodrigues has become in her lifetime an internationally known star as a popular singer of "Fado" and Portuguese folk music. The word "Fado" refers to a distinct Portuguese style of lyric that is sung in a special manner and accompanied on a viola and guitar. There are two recognized schools of these sonnets, one from Lisbon and the other from the University town of Coimbra. The artist in early years appeared in theatrical reviews and also in one or two films. She has appeared in New York and at the Olympia in Paris. In 1997 she published a series of poems under the name "Versos".
Born in Cascais in 1894, and died in 1987. His career prior to politics was in the Portuguese navy. In 1914 he was appointed as Minister of the Navy and remained such until 1958 when he was raised to the position of President in a hard-fought election against General Humberto Delgado. He remained in this post with the backing of António de Oliveira Salazar and his later replacement Marcelo Caetano until he was exiled by the "Revolution of the 25th of April" in 1974. He was allowed back into the country in 1980 by the act of the President of that time, General Ramalho Eanes. During his political career he maintained a positive right-wing political stance to the very end. It is reliably quoted that during the short period in office of Marcelo Caetano (who replaced the aged Salazar), Admiral Thomaz was instrumental in ensuring that this new appointee maintained the policies of the previously well established right-wing.
Born in 1811 in Gondim and died in 1897 in Porto. Commonly known as "Ferrerinha" due to her vast property in the wine and port estate in the district of the Douro. She was dominant figure in the wine trade and was at the same time a philanthropic lady who was constantly assisting the poor and needy. Her business ability was such that she accumulated 30 vineyards, warehouses and palaces, besides her personal effects.
Born in 1805 in Cape Verde and died in 1883 in Lisbon. She was a writer, composer, and the first woman to openly publish a newspaper. She was a Monarchist, and a strong defender of the rights of women to be educated.
Born in 1580 in Aveiro and of unknown date of death. She is renown in Portuguese folklore as the "Portuguese Knight" because she disguised herself as a male warrior and fought in North Africa with valour and distinction. She had to flee home when the daughter of a high ranking officer fell in love with her in the disguise of being a man. Upon her return her outstanding courage was rewarded with an annual income.
Born in Fornos de Algodres on 29th May 1803. He trained as a lawyer in Coimbra and became a Judge. His initial political stand was as a liberalist but he was quick to use force when necessary and was reputed to be ruthless to the point of corruption in succeeding in his goals. During his lifetime he created a mixed reputation of fear and admiration in the Court, financial world and the people of Portugal. He was appointed in 1836 as Governor of Lisbon and was a confident of the Queen, Dona Maria II. In the same year he used force to put down from March the 13th to the 18th the radical mobs that created unrest in Lisbon (Massacre do Rossio).
He restored diplomatic relations with Vatican and re-introduced a conservative Constitutional Charter. He encouraged foreign investment and restructured financial control away from regions to a central control bringing temporary prosperity. Costa Cabral organized a "coup d'etat" in 1842 given key posts to his supporters. He was appointed as Minister and Secretary for Royal State Affairs in 1843. In 1846 the peasant's revolt known as "Maria da Fonte" in the north of Portugal brought about by a period of famine. Newly introduced burial regulations was blamed as the final cause for the riots and he was removed from office. He fled to England but was later returned and was restored to power in 1848. Again due to his unpopularity and the now poor economic state of Portugal he was replaced for a second time by the Duque de Saldanha in 1851.
Born into a humble family in 1889 in the small village of Sta Comba Dão near to the city of Coimbra, and later died in Lisbon in 1970. He gained a degree in both Law and Finance at the University of Coimbra and was appointed a University lecturer. He was approached in 1926 to solve the serious economic problems existing within Portugal. By 1932 he had assumed absolute power which he was not to relinquish until two years before his death in 1970.
With a firm hand he controlled both the politics and economics, carefully guiding the country through two world wars without committed involvement. His tone of politics was taken from right-wing nationalism that did not tolerate freedom of political opinion. He held his rule secure through the work of the secret police force that showed little tolerance for anyone who did not conform. With this price of a lack of democratic development he successfully rebuilt Portugal and its economic wealth. At the time of his death the national reserves of gold within the country was the highest per capita in Europe. In his devotion to serving his country he always maintained a very simple standard of living. However, those few people around him who were implementing his policies found the opportunities to gain great wealth. His rule began to show signs of slow weakening when in 1961 the War of Independence commenced in Angola that was the fore-runner of other African colonial wars. This situation eventually built up into a bloodless popular revolution within mainland Portugal of his armed forces in 1974, four years after his death.
António Spínola was born in Santo André, Estremoz and died in 1996. He enrolled in the army and was actively involved in the colonial war in Angola from 1961 to 1963. In 1968 he was appointed Commander in Chief and Governor of Guinea-Bissau until 1974. He unknowingly became a figurehead for the young army officers who were secretly plotting the Revolution of 1974. He had published a book expressing his views on the colonial wars that were then engaging Portugal in Africa. His views were strongly appreciated by the plotters but not shared by the powers in Lisbon. Due to his popularity within the army and together with his position as General he was seen by the State as a threat to the system. Prior to the revolution taking place he was recalled from Africa.
With the success of the young officers in toppling the Marcelo Caetano government (which was a continuation of the previous Salazar regime), he was nominated the next day into being their official leader in the "Army Junta of Salvation". Spínola was soon to find that these "new comrades" were too left wing for his taste. In September of 1974 with the backing of the Portuguese Air Force, he failed in his attempt to topple the power of the Junta and hastily had to flee the country into Spain and then onto Brazil. Later, and after his return to Portugal he was awarded by the State the title of Marshal in 1981.
Artur de Sacadura Freire Cabral Júnior was born near Guarda in 1881 Celorico de Bedira, and died in 1922. He made his career initially in the navy and then moved into their Naval Air Force and later promoted to Director of this Service. In 1921, together with his colleague Gago Coutinha, they became the first aviators to successfully travel non-stop across the South Atlantic from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. On the 15th of December in 1922 he disappeared whilst on a routine flight.
Born in Coimbra in 1872 and died by assassination in Lisbon on 14th December 1918. Pais Sídonio developed into an ardent but moderate Republican. In the government of João Chagas of 1911, he was first appointed Minister of Progress and transferred to Minister of Finance. In 1913 he was appointed as the Ambassador to Berlin but returned on the outbreak of the First World War. Upon his return and appalled at the anarchy within Portugal he became a leading driving force in 1917 behind the "coup de etat" and the subsequent introduction of the "República Nova". He made quick headway in bringing some stability back to society, economically and politically, including improving the poor relations of long standing between the State and the Catholic Church. His death has been blamed on the then powerful Mason Lodges.
Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figuereido (Visconte Sá Bandeira)
Born in Santarém in 1795 and died in 1876. His town of birth was then the centre of liberal thinking within Portugal which was to have great influence on his path in life. He joined the army at the age of 15 and fought against the invading French. Later, he was to also take an active part in the siege of the northern town of Porto in the "War of the Two Brothers". In 1823 he was actively involved in the removing of the dictatorial government. Also, in 1836, he was responsible for the passing of a Law forbidding slave trading. His promotion to General led him into a powerful position in the political field being involved in several governments and five times a part of the "Counsel of Ministers". He became responsible in his mandate for the introduction and installation of many liberal policies during his political lifetime.
Carmen Dolores Cohen Sarmento was born in Lisbon in 1924. In her twenties she had already appeared in films and made herself a name in stage productions. In 1959 she gained an award for her outstanding performance in the play "Seis Personagens à procura de um Autor". The range of her artistic ability has taken her into classical plays by Dostoievski, Steinbeck, Shakespeare, Strindberg, and others. In 1969 she appeared with the Casa da Comédia in Strindberg's "Dança da Morte". This took her to Paris where she lived until 1983. Now living back in Portugal she continues to be actively involved in theatre, TV and radio.
. He is reputed to have been very autocratic in using his office, courting popularity with the royal families of Europe and an active member of the powerful "Freemasonry" movement. The most important act that he implemented was to expel the Order of Jesuits from Portugal. This Order was responsible for the introduction and the administration of the infamous Inquisition. With charges of heresy the Jesuits tortured and sacrificed their enemies whilst taking possession of their estates. By expelling this Order from Portugal he created a more democratic establishment where the power was divided between the King, his knights and the church.
Born in 1357 as the bastard son of King Dom Pedro I and Dona Teresa Lourenço of Galicia. At the early age of six he was granted his title of "Mestre de Avis" as a public recognition of his royal bloodline. In 1363 Dom João was placed under the tutorage of Dom Nuno Friere, Mestre de Ordem de Cristo. At the age of 26 he took part in the muder of the Conde de Andeiro who was the lover of the Queen Dona Leonor Teles (widow of Dom Fernando I), and who was planning to hand over the Portuguese throne to Castile. Being named the "Regent and Defender of the Throne" rewarded this act. In 1385, at Coimbra, he declared himself the rightful heir to the throne and proceeded to do battle with Spain. His important victory at Aljubarrota against Castile(1384), is celebrated by the magnificent construction of the Mosteiro da Batalha. His reign as Dom João I was marked by balanced political and economic measures that kept the knights from fighting between themselves. In 1387 he married Filipa de Lencastre, (daughter of the Duke of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward II of England), and fathered five sons with the most outstanding being "Henry the Navigator". He died in 1433 at the good age of 76.
Born in Lisbon in 1771 and died in 1842. He studied in Lisbon and Paris where he published his works. Upon the French invasion of Portugal he fled to London where he achieved enormous success. He returned to Portugal, to the court of Dom João VI, and founded in 1822 the first Portuguese Royal Philharmonic Society. He died leaving a vast collection of compositions for piano, cantatas, orchestra, and a mass named "Missa de Requeim", considered to be his best work.
Born in 1819 in Rio de Janeiro and died in 1853 giving birth to her tenth son. Daughter of Dom Pedro IV the first Emperor of Brazil. She was married three times the last being to Prince Fernando of Saxe-Coburgo-Gota-Koháry. She inherited the throne at the tender age of seven but was subject to a a Regent until reaching the age of fifteen. She became know as "The Educator" as she took it upon herself the education of her children. She had a difficult reign due to her Uncle Dom Miguel who wished to take the throne for himself. She suffered popular rebellions and at one time a Civil War. However, regardless of the pressures of State she was successful in introducing a Constitutional Charter.
Born into a distinguished Republican family Duarte Pacheco was born in Loulé on the 19th April, 1900. After graduating in electro-technology within four years be had passed from lecturer, professor of mathematics, to director of the "Insituto Superior Técnico". He showed promise in the political arena and was appointed Minister of Public Education at the early age of 28. He became well known for his workaholic attitude which created friends as well as enemies.
He was the Minister designated to invite Dr António de Oliveira Salazar to become the Finance Minister for which he was to be rewarded in their future relationship with open favouritism. He introduced into Portugal a grand scheme of expropriation of land by major councils to construct major public buildings and important and much needed motorways. With the growth of Lisbon's population during the 1920´s by 62 percent he improved the city's water supply. In 1934 he presented a plan for the construction of a bridge over the River Tagus which was to later become a reality decades later. He improved education and supervised the constructed of 10.000 primary schools, involved in building of Dams, regulating road transport, the development of Pousadas, the 1940 Exhibition of Portuguese World, etc. His interests also covered culture and he involved many artists from musicians to sculptors in his projects.
He died as a result of a car crash which occurred on the 15th of November 1943.
Born in 1899 and died in 1986. She became an outstanding scientist in research work in scientific fields. At an early age her ability was recognised by being granted a scholarship to work under the famous scientist Madame Marie Curie. Her research work in nuclear physics for peaceful means was finally recognised by the Portuguese State at the age of 67.
Fernando António Nogueira Pessoa is perhaps the writer that is best remembered by the Portuguese of modern times. Born in Lisbon in 1888 and died in 1935. At the death of his father at the tender age of five his family departed to live in Durban in South Africa. In 1904 he won a scholarship to attend Cape Town University. He returned to his native Portugal in 1905 to continue his studies in Lisbon. Later in 1915, he joined a group of prominent intellectuals to publish the famous Orpheu, magazine. Only three publications were produced but each had a tremendous impact on the culture of that time. All his poems were signed with alias, such as Ricardo Reis, Alberto Caeiro, Álvaro Campos and Bernardo Soares. The exception was the poem "Mensagem" that appeared in 1935 in his own name.
Born in the district of Trás-os-Montes in 1480. He participated in 1505 in the invasion of India led by Dom Francisco de Almeida. In 1511 he was in the campaign of the taking of Malaca and three years later was wounded in battle at Azamor, in Morocco. In was responsible for discovering the Philippine Islands in 1521.
Born in 1360 in England and died in 1415 in Odivelas. She was the granddaughter of the King Edward III of England and the daughter of John of Gaunt. She arrived in Portugal at Porto at the age of 27 to marry King Dom João I of the Avis Dynasty. She was a strong personality who helped to develop and modernise Portugal. She had five sons and one daughter, all of which were to play important roles in the history of the country, particularly the Infante Dom Henrique known as the "Navigator".
An outstanding soldier of the 12th century who initially gained fame by his ruthless attacks on the Moors in the Alentejo district. He normally chose to mount his attacks at night in the winter months, especially when there was heavy rain. He gained the support of King Afonso 1. He was nicknamed "Geraldo Sem-Pavor" whcih translates as having "no fear". From 1162 to 1167 he was instrumental in capturing form the Moors the castles of Elvas, Juromenha, Moura, Serpa, and Monsaraz, and towns of Mourão, Arronches, Crato, Marvão, Alvito and Barrancos. In October of 1165 he took the important town of Évora and later 1168 was involved at the side of the King when attacking the town of Badajos. In 1173 he apparently changed sides and fought for the Moors in Morocco but was executed when secret correspondence with King Afonso was found in his possession.
The respected explorer Gil Eanes has been well remembered throughout Portugal by having many streets and squares named after him. Unfortunately, very little is recorded as to where and when he was born or died. He was a household servant to Prince Henry the Navigator and in 1434 he sailed from Lagos and was the first mariner of his time to sail past Cape Bojador. This was considered as an amazing event because superstition held that from this point the known world ended. It is popularly believed that Lagos was maybe his town of birth and there is a plaque erected with the words " He opened the old sea to modern man".
Born in 1465 and died in 1536. An outstanding Portuguese playwright and poet whose background is not recorded. He also acted and directed his own plays. He is considered the most important dramatist of Portugal and his works include 46 plays, of which 16 are written in the Portuguese language and 11 in Castilian, whilst 19 are to be found in both languages. Although, his plays were later suppressed by the Inquisition causing damage to his previous fame, he is today recognised as one of the most important playwrights to originate from the Iberian Peninsular.
Born in Arruda dos Vinhos in 1892 and died in 1958. As a journalist, poet and writer, Irene Lisboa made a name for herself during her lifetime with her vocal and written words for the emancipation and equality of women. Her political views were unaccepted by the authorities and her books and articles were strongly censured and were published at her own personal expense. Thirty-one years after her death she was awarded the "Ordem de Liberdade".
Jose Manuel Durão Barroso born on 23rd of March in Lisbon in 1956. During his student days he was politically against the regime of the dictator Salazar and actively participated in an extreme left-wing underground student movement named the MRPP (Revolutionary Movement of the Portuguese Proletariat). In December of 1980 he moved politically to the centre and joined the PPD/PSD (Democratic Popular Party). In 1985 under the government of Cavaco Silva he was appointed as an Under-Secretary of Home Affairs. In 1995 was elected to the assembly of the Republic as a representative for Lisbon. In 2002 he was part of the coalition government of the PSD Party with the right-wing People's Party and became Prime Minister on the 6th of April of the same year. In March of 2003 he hosted the meeting in the Azores of leaders, USA's George. W. Bush, Britain's Tony Blair, and the Spanish Jose Maria Aznar, who then all agreed to invade and occupy the country of Iraq. On the 5th of July 2004 whilst still serving as the Prime Minister he was nominated as the President of the European Commission and thus leaving his Portuguese post to take up his new office - retiring from this post in 2014.
José Maria Eça de Queirós was born in 1845 in Póvoa de Varzim and died in 1900. He graduated from the University of Coimbra as a Lawyer in 1866. For a short time he founded and was editor of the Journal de Distrito de Évora. In 1870 he was appointed the State Administrator of the Distrito de Leiria. He then was appointed Consul for Havana in Cuba in 1872. Two years later he made an official visit to the U.S.A. and then moved to live in Newcastle. It was only in 1876 that his first novel "O Crime de Padre Amaro" appeared. The success of this book followed with other novels, in particular the work "Maias" for which he was much acclaimed. He died in Paris on the 16th of August.
Born in Azinhaga in 1922. This author has built a reputation world-wide, and especially within his home country Portugal and also in Spain where he has made his home. Humble origins forced him to be self-taught in developing his natural writing skills. His strong left-wing sentiments caused him to seek work in various other fields during his early life. The first critically successful acknowledged work from his pen was in 1966 with Os Poemas Possíveis". Since 1974 he has contributed articles to many publications and for a time worked as assistant director of the national daily newspaper "Diário de Notícias". After being nominated various times for the Nobel Prize in Literature he was at last successful in 1998.
Born in São Tomé, Cape Verde Islands in 1868. He studied the piano in the Royal Conservatory in Lisbon, later moving to Berlin frequenting the "Schawenka School". A public performance in Berlin in 1887 brought him instant fame. He soon began a tour of the European centres of culture giving performances in Denmark, Finland, Russia and England. His first performance in New York was in 1886. He kept his home in Berlin until the start of the 1914 World War when he moved to Geneva. Here he gave lessons at the Geneva Conservatory. In 1917 he returned to Portugal and joined with his protégé, the composer Luís de Freitas Branco, to present concerts and recitals until his death in 1946.
Jose-Augusto Rodrigues França born in Tomar in 1922 completed his academic education at the Sorbonne in Paris as a Doctor of History. A prolific writer he will probably be best remembered in the future for his historical works relating to the history of Portuguese Fine Arts and particularly during the period of the 20th Century. His sensitivity of the world of art and its history transfers itself in his books and critical writings.
Born in 1500 and died in India in 1548. He was the son of Alvaro de Castro the Governor of Lisbon and studied under the famous scholar Pedro Nunes. At the age of eighteen he joined the Portuguese forces in Northern Africa and was knighted in the field of action by Dom Eduardo de Menezes, the Governor of Tangiers. In 1538 he sailed to western India to continue in the Portuguese expansion in the east. He is reputed to have brought back to Portugal the first orange tree.
Born in 1657 in Bengal and died in 1734. Daughter of a Portuguese soldier and a slave in the harem of the Princess of Agra. She had an exceptional ability for languages and played the role of negotiator and ambassador for Portugal in their many dealing with Indian Princes and other Kingdoms in Asia. She was also later called upon to use her skills in diplomatic negotiation with the Dutch, French and Italians. She was outstanding in her diplomatic skills and was at the same time "out of the norm" as a women in this role. She was responsible for the expansion of the Jesuit faith in Portuguese dominated territories.
King João appointed João de Castro as the Governor of all Eastern Territories based in the State of Goa in 1545 as a result of his reorganisation and improvements of the Portuguese army. His forces were successful in defeating the various local Indian enemies. Amongst his various battles he succeeded in breaking the besiegement of the Fortress of Dio by the King of Camboya. King João orders for the Fortress to be rebuilt in a stronger manner and it falls on João de Castro to find the money. João offers the bones of his dead son as a guarantee for the money but when his grave is opened his body is found to be in well preserved state and was not touched. The inhabitants decided to find the necessary funds regardless. Before King João could reward his servant João de Castro fell ill and died.
Born in 1890 into a renowned musical family he rose quickly to fame with recognition from the respected Vianna de Mota. His compositions were initially by necessity classical. Later he wrote musical scores that educated and liberated his audience to enjoy romantic concerts. He is fondly remembered as the instrumental influence in the creation and development of modern music in Portugal. He died in 1955 leaving behind a large collection of compositions and many appreciated musical public performances in the memories of his audience.
Acknowledged as a poet to equal Shakespeare. He was born in Coimbra in 1525 and died in 1579. His main claim to fame is his outstanding work "Os Lusíadas" that he completed in 1572. It is an epic work that is devoted to the Portuguese historic voyages and their accomplishments. He based this work on many of his own experiences as he sailed in search of the New World. His work has been translated into many languages but even to this day much of what he wrote remains elusive in meaning.
Born in 1841 and died in 1909. She was the daughter of one of the richest families at that time in Portugal. She became known as the first woman sculptress of note and won awards for her works in Portugal and in the Paris Salon. She was very active in social and political matters and founded with friends the "Cozinhas Económicas" which were canteens giving decent free meals to the poor people of Lisbon.
Born in Setúbal in 1753, and died in 1833. A very popular opera singer who married the Italian violinist Francisco Todi. She had a rich strong voice and the demand for her talent came mainly from the royal courts of Europe although she made many other public performances. Amongst these she was invited to perform before Frederic II of Prussia and Catarina II of Russia. After many years touring Europe she eventually settled in Lisbon in 1811. The invasion of the Napoleon's troops into her beloved country affected her to such an extent that her health declined and she died shortly afterwards.
Maria Lamas was born in 1893 in Torres Vedras and died in 1983. She was a strong supporter of female rights and open democracy which was in stark contrast to the ruling António Salazar. At one stage she was placed in prison for her views and then later exiled. At the advanced age of 81 years of age she joined the Portuguese Communist Party and was adopted as a symbol of their feminine emancipation.
Mário Soares was born in Lisbon in 1924, and completed his first degree in philosophy. Due to his political views he was soon without an income as he was not permitted to teach. To remedy this situation he then studied Law and received his new degree in 1951. His interest in left-wing political views initially also led him to secretly join the Communist Party. In 1958 he moderated his stance and joined in the growing popular support for the party led by the Presidential candidate General Delgado. He was later to become a founder member in the formation of the ASP Party based on democratic socialism. The authorities deported him in 1968 to the colony of São Tomé e Principe.
Released later and not being allowed to return to mainland Portugal he decided to spend his exile in Paris joining many similar minded Portuguese. Using France as his base he continued in his struggle against the regime in power in Lisbon. Whilst still in exile he was appointed as the Secretary General of the ASP at a special secret meeting in Germany. When he returned in 1974 to Portugal just after the Revolution had taken place, he was appointed to the ministerial post of Foreign Affairs within the various temporary governments. After the Constitution had been rewritten his Party gained the majority vote in the first free general election held in 1976. As the leader of the winning Socialist Party he held the post of Prime Minister until 1978. He and his Party were later re-elected from 1983 until 1985.
He had to make several hard decisions during the initial period of Prime Minister, some of which are still held up to him in criticism. He was finally elected President of Portugal in 1986 and again re-elected in 1991. His enthusiastic commitment to the idea of the European Union was realized on the 12th of June 1985, when he signed on behalf of Portugal. He re-entered the active arena of international politics and was elected to a seat in Brussels. In 2006 he stood unsuccessfully again for the office of President
Born in 1923 on the Island of São Miguel in the Azores and died in 1993. After studying in Lisbon she made a career as a poet, novelist and writer. After the 1974 Revolution she became actively involved in right-wing politics and was elected as a deputy to parliament. Her strong personality kept her in the forefront of the news for many years.
Born in Lisbon in 1608 and died in Bahia, Brazil, in 1697. His family moved to Brazil when he was only six years old. He was given a Jesuit religious education but was only ordained in 1635. He departed in 1641 for Portugal and was arrested on arrival. He then gained the favour of the King, Dom João IV, and was sent to Holland and later France as a diplomat. In 1665 after his return to Portugal he was again arrested and interrogated by the Inquisition. He returned to Brazil frustrated by the situation but later travelled to Rome to submit his views to the Pope. He lived a very long life full of turmoil, but his creative abilities and unlimited energy left behind numerous manuscripts and sermons that are revered today.
Born in 6th of February in 1608 and died in 1697 in Bahia, Brazil. Known as "Padre António Vieira" he played an important part in Luso-Brazilian history. His remarkable intellect was shown by the roles he played in religion, politics, orator and writer. During his 89 years of life he lived alongside royalty, slaves and tribal Indians, and in an age when society was known for its disregard for religion and its medieval brutality. He was to also be persecuted by the Inquisition for his liberal ideas and suffered by their hands.
Paula Figueiroa Rego was born in 1935 in Lisbon. On her decision to make her career in Art she departed in 1954 to attend the Slade School of Art in London. She married an Englishman and made her permanent home in that country. However, her roots have constantly brought her back to exhibit in Portugal where she is highly respected. Her name today is renowned in the art world and she has been placed amongst the four best living painters within England today. Exhibitions of her figurative style of painting are constantly being held in leading galleries.
Pedro Alvares Cabral was born c. 1468 and died c.1520 in Santarém. Commissioned in 1500 by King Manuel I he departed on the 9th of March from Lisbon to lead an expedition of 13 ships with the orders to establish trade with India by sailing via the Cape of Good Hope. His fleet reached Brazil in April of that year and gave this discovered land the name of "Terra de Vera Cruz". He eventually reached India at Calcutta in September of the same year having lost only four of his ships in his long exhausting voyage. Pedro Cabral sailed back to Portugal reaching Lisbon with only four ships from his original fleet of 13. However, each of these vessels were laden with eastern spices that provided the beginnings of the most important wealthy period in Portuguese history under the King Manuel I. It was from the information gained from this epic voyage that the royal prince "Henry the Navigator" was inspired to organize many further expeditions and set up trading routes for the economic benefit of his country.
Ramalho Eanes with his key position as President and his policy of staying in the middle ground of left-wing thinking, played an important role in an often tense and difficult period by easing the control of the country into a social democracy and away from the attempted extreme left-wing control.
Born in 1919, this lady poet commenced composing poetry at the age of 16. As a classical style poet she first published some works in 1941 under the title of "Poesia". Later works include "Geografia" (1967), "Ilhas" (1990), "Musa" (1994), and "Signo" in 1994. She also published a collection of children's stories that brought her more popular appeal. In 1999 she was awarded the laureate "Camões Prize for her outstanding contribution to Portuguese culture.
Daughter of Afonso VI of Leon and Ximena Muniz, born in 1080 and died in 1130 she was married as a minor to her husband Dom Henrique of Burgundy, the 9th Count of Portacalis. She was the mother of three daughters and her son Afonso who was later to become the first king of Portugal. She was also the fifth grandchild of Mumadona Dias who was the first Countess of Portucale, the county which was later to become Portugal. Afonso was also the great-grandson of the King of France. Upon the act of marriage she received as a gift the counties of of Portucale and Coimbra.
She soon found herself as a widow and crowned herself as a Queen of the County of Portocale and continued the fight of her husband to conquer further lands to enlarge her kingdom with the wish to make the north-west Iberian Peninsular as one. She ruled for 16 years until defeated by her rebel son's army. She died two years later and is buried in Braga cathedral.
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva was born in Lisbon in 1908 and died in 1992. She commenced her studies in Lisbon. In 1928 she moved to Paris to frequent the Academy La Grande Chaumiére and also initially the studio of the sculptor Bourdelle. In 1929 she turned to painting and was to meet the famous painter Arpad Szénes whom she married in 1924. It was only in 1933 that the artist held her first individual exhibition that was in Paris. To her lasting regret, due to the regulations by this act she forfeited her Portuguese nationality. This was only returned to her much later in life and caused her to live outside Portugal. Firstly in Paris, then Brazil before returning to Paris. Her talent and unique style in painting took her to the very top of the ladder in world acclaim. In 1956 she was given French citizenship but after the Portuguese Revolution of 1974 she returned to Portugal to receive a warm and official welcome. In 1990, two years before her death, she had the pleasure of attended the inaugural meeting of the "Szénes-Vieira da Silva Foundation". The building in Lisbon that houses the sizeable collection of both hers and her late husbands work was opened in 1993.
William Carr Beresford (Viscount Beresford)
Born on October the 2nd in 1768 as the illegitimate son of the first Marques of Waterford. He joined the army at the early age of 14 and saw action against the French. By the age of 23 he had risen to to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and at various times sent to do battle in Egypt, France and South America. The later was successful in the occupation of Buenos Aires but had to surrender after three days due lack of supplies.
In 1807 he was sent by the British to occupy the Island of Madeira in the name of Portugal. After six months he was ordered to join Sir Arthur Wellesley in Portugal. He was first employed as commandant of Lisbon but accompanied Sir John Moore on the advance into Spain. He took a conspicuous part in the battle of Corunna in 1808. In February 1809 Beresford was given the task of reorganizing the Portuguese army. By the systematic removal of inefficient officers and men he successfully rebuilt the Portuguese army. By the summer of 1810 he had so far improved the moral and discipline of this force that the Duke of Wellington brigaded some of the Portuguese regiments with English ones, and at the Battle of Buçaco Portuguese and English troops fought side by side. Beresford's services in this battle were rewarded by the British government with a knighthood of the Bath and the Portuguese with a peerage.
In the spring of 1811 Wellington was compelled to detach Beresford from Portuguese service. The latter was next in seniority to General (Lord) Hill who had gone home on sick leave, and onto him the command of Hill's corps was now placed. Unfortunately, Beresford never really gained the confidence of his new troops. At Campo Maior his light cavalry brigade got out of hand, and a regiment of dragoons was practically annihilated. He later attacked Badajoz with insufficient forces and, on the advance of the French army led by Soult, he was compelled to raise the siege and then offer battle at Albuera. Beresford then went back to his work of reorganizing the Portuguese army. He was present at the siege of Badajoz and at the Battle of Salamanca in 1812, where he was severely wounded. In 1813 he was present at the Battle of Vittoria, and at the battles of the Pyrenees, while at the battle of the Nivelle, the Nive and Orthez he commanded the British centre, and later he led a corps at the battle of Toulouse. At the close of the Peninsular War he was created Baron Beresford of Albuera and Cappoquin.
In 1819 the revolution in Portugal led to the dismissal of the British officers in the Portuguese service. Beresford had made powerful Portuguese enemies, notably Gomes Freire de Andrade which he had executed and this made him even more unpopular. Therefore, he left Portugal and placed the question of the arrears of pay of his army before the Portuguese King in Rio Janeiro. On his return the new Portuguese government refused to allow him to land. On arriving back in England he turned his attention to politics, and strongly supported the Duke of Wellington in the House of Lords. In 1823 his Barony was raised to Viscount. He died on the 8th of January 1854. His Portuguese titles included Conde de Trancoso, Marquês de Campo Maior, and Duque de Elvas.