Almeida (Luís Beltrão de Gouveia e)
Original title: Almeida (Luiz Beltrão de Gouveia e)
Governor and captain-general of Madeira from 1813 until his sudden death in 1814. He clashed with the British occupying forces under General Gordon and wrote a report on agricultural and public improvements.
He was appointed governor and captain-general of this archipelago on 13 February 1813 and took up the post on 10 August of the same year. He clashed with General Gordon, commander of the British troops occupying Madeira, who among other arbitrary acts had an English soldier hanged for killing a sergeant of his own nationality, thereby gravely offending the sovereign rights of the King of Portugal. He made every effort to secure the withdrawal of those troops and was always zealous in running the public services. He wrote a long and remarkable report on the development of Madeiran agriculture, road building and other indispensable public improvements. He died suddenly in Funchal on 1 July 1814 and was buried in the Capela do Santíssimo Sacramento (Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament) of the Cathedral (Sé Catedral).
On his death, in accordance with the legal provisions then in force, the supreme government of the archipelago passed to the diocesan bishop, Dom Friar Joaquim de Meneses Ataíde, the corregedor (royal district magistrate) of the judicial district (comarca), Dr Manuel C. de Almeida e Albuquerque, and the senior officer, António Alberto de Andrade Perdigão.
The commander of the British forces claimed a place in this government, but the other members opposed it, and their stand was approved by the central government.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02-
Luís Beltrão de Gouveia e Almeida was appointed governor and captain-general of Madeira.
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The new governor Luís Beltrão de Gouveia e Almeida arrived in Funchal on 7 August 1813 and took office on 10 August.
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Governor Luís Beltrão de Gouveia e Almeida died suddenly in Funchal and an interim government took over.
Place
Places mentioned · 02
- Funchal
Where the governor died.
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.
- Funchal Cathedral (the Sé)
Funchal. Chapel in Funchal Cathedral where he was buried.
The Sé do Funchal is the cathedral of Funchal, in the parish of Sé. It was begun in 1493, became a parish seat in 1508 and a cathedral in 1514. It was the starting point of processions and the place of the vow to São Tiago, and bishops are buried there.
People
People mentioned · 05-
Governor and captain-general of Madeira (1813–14), who opposed the British occupying troops and died suddenly in Funchal.
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Senior military officer who joined the interim government in 1814.
- D. Joaquim de Meneses e Ataíde1765–1828
Bishop of Funchal who joined the interim government after Almeida's death in 1814.
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Commander of the British troops occupying Madeira, who had an English soldier hanged, offending Portuguese sovereignty.
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Corregedor of the comarca who joined the interim government in 1814.