Almeida (Paulo Dias de)
Engineer who drew a general map of Madeira and wrote a 1817 description of the island; imprisoned as a constitutionalist in 1828, he died in exile in Africa before 1834.
An engineer and corresponding member of the Funchal Society of Friends of the Sciences and Arts (Sociedade Funchalense dos Amigos das Sciencias e Artes). Because he belonged to the constitutional party, he was arrested and sent aboard the frigate Príncipe D. Pedro as soon as the governor José Maria Monteiro arrived on the island. He was later sent to Lisbon aboard the storeship Orestes as a political prisoner, indicted by the special judicial commission (alçada) that came to the island in 1828.
He drew up the general map of the island of Madeira at the beginning of the 19th century and left a manuscript entitled Descripção da Ilha da Madeira em geral e de cada huma das suas freguesias, villas e logares em particular, suas producções, numero de fogos e seus habitantes; e estado actual das suas fortificações; 1817. This manuscript was published in the Navy and Overseas Archive (Arquivo da Marinha e Ultramar), vol. II, with drawings of the fortifications, figures of the militia troops and popular costumes.
Sentenced for political reasons to penal exile (degredo) in Africa, he died there shortly before 1834.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02-
Paulo Dias de Almeida wrote his manuscript description of Madeira, recording details such as carapuças, the Pontinha landing stair and a view of the São Lourenço palace.
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D. Miguel's judicial commission (alçada) came to Madeira, indicting 216 liberals and freemasons and imprisoning 101; some, like Nery and Agrela, were sent to Lisbon, while others fled or hid.
Place
Places mentioned · 03
- Africa
Place of his exile and death.
Africa is referred to as a destination of Madeiran expeditions, soldiers and exiled convicts, and as an export market for Madeiran butter. The explorers Capelo and Ivens crossed the continent, and North Africa is noted as the origin of the date palm.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Where he was sent as a prisoner.
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.
People
People mentioned · 02-
Engineer who mapped Madeira and was exiled as a constitutionalist, dying in Africa shortly before 1834.
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Miguelist governor on whose arrival Almeida was arrested.