Aguiar (Joaquim Nunes de)
Biography of Joaquim Nunes de Aguiar, Funchal-born civil engineer trained in Paris who worked on Portugal's northern and eastern railways and public works; he died in Funchal in 1877.
This distinguished engineer was born in Funchal towards the end of the first quarter of the 19th century, the natural son of Diogo Teles de Meneses, director of our customs house. After his preparatory studies he began his course in civil engineering in Lisbon, and later completed it with great distinction in Paris in 1848. He was engineer to the Funchal Municipal Council (Câmara Municipal do Funchal) from 1849 to 1850, and in 1852 was called to work on the Northern Railway, where he gave notable proof of his talent and love of work. He then held important posts: director of public works in Viana, Braga and Porto, member of the Public Works Council, director of the Eastern Railway and inspector of the northern lines. He travelled abroad several times on missions entrusted to him by our government. He was a man of great aptitude and remarkable energy, and died in Funchal, from overwork, on 14 November 1877.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 04Place
Places mentioned · 06
Abroad
- Braga
Portugal. He directed public works there.
Braga is a city, district and archdiocese in mainland Portugal and the country's second densest district, with about 140 inhabitants per km². D. José da Costa Torres headed the archdiocese from 1806 and died there. The Corpo Nacional de Escutas was founded in Braga in 1923, and the city gives its name to the requinta instrument.
- Funchal
Birthplace and place of death of the engineer.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Where he began his engineering course.
The Portuguese capital, seat of the Relação court and of the Misericórdia whose privileges and statutes were extended to Funchal. Henrique Franco de Sousa studied at its Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and Luiz José Baiardo moved there in 1821.
- Paris
France. Where he completed his engineering degree.
The French capital, where Franco de Sousa settled and painted 'Ar livre', and where Juvenal Honório de Ornelas took his medical doctorate in 1834. Padre Luiz Gonçalves da Câmara studied there and met Loyola, and the Barão de Ornelas graduated, practised and died there.
- Porto
Portugal. He directed public works there.
A Portuguese city, where the 1820 liberal revolution began and whose district is the only one denser than Funchal's. Several Madeirans studied at its medical school or Academia Politécnica, and some lived or died there. The editor of O Funchalense Liberal was hanged there, and Marítimo beat FC Porto there in 1922.
- Viana do Castelo
Portugal. He directed public works there.
Viana do Castelo is a town in mainland Portugal, recorded as the birthplace or home town of several figures linked to Madeira, including Paulo Malheiro de Melo and Pedro Barbosa. It is also named as the origin of settlers of Newfoundland. Joaquim Nunes de Aguiar directed public works there, and D. António Manuel Pereira Ribeiro taught there and was consecrated bishop there.
People
People mentioned · 02- Joaquim Nunes de Aguiard. 1877
Madeiran civil engineer, Funchal municipal engineer and later director of public works and railways in mainland Portugal.
-
Director of the Funchal customs and natural father of Joaquim Nunes de Aguiar.