Alvares (Joaquim de Oliveira)
Biography of Joaquim de Oliveira Alvares (1776–1835), a Madeiran-born naval and army officer who fought in the Montevideo campaigns, stayed in Brazil after independence and became its minister of war.
Life and career
He was born in Madeira on 16 November 1776 and graduated in mathematics and philosophy from the University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra). In 1798 he was appointed 2nd lieutenant in the navy, and two years later he distinguished himself in an engagement off the coast of the Algarve between a small Portuguese caique under his command and a French privateer. Although he emerged from the fight defeated, he was recommended for promotion for the bravery he had shown in it. He then served in the squadron of the Marquis of Nisa, and in 1804 we find him in Brazil, having exchanged the navy for the army, holding the rank of captain of artillery in the São Paulo volunteer legion.
He took part in the Montevideo campaigns, defeated the forces of the famous Artigas at the battle of Carumbé on 27 October 1816, and on 4 January of the following year distinguished himself at the battle of Catalán. In reward for these services he was given the substantive rank of brigadier, the commandery of the Order of Avis and, in 1816, the brevet rank of field marshal.
After Brazilian independence he remained in that empire, where he became minister of war, substantive field marshal, officer of the Order of the Southern Cross and lieutenant general.
He lived in London from 1830 to 1835. Having received a very large inheritance there, he placed his wealth at the disposal of the Brazilian government so that, at a time of financial difficulty, it could pay the interest on its bonds. He went to Paris in 1835 in search of relief from his ailments and died there at the age of 59. He is buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery.
He was a man of wide learning and left unpublished a substantial work entitled Estatística do Brasil. Volume 2 of the Dicionário Popular contains interesting biographical details of Marshal Joaquim de Oliveira Alvares, who was the brother of Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) João Francisco de Oliveira, another illustrious son of our land.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 08-
Joaquim de Oliveira Álvares was born in Madeira.
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Joaquim de Oliveira Álvares was appointed second lieutenant in the navy.
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Joaquim de Oliveira Álvares commanded a Portuguese caique against a French privateer off the Algarve.
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Joaquim de Oliveira Álvares served in Brazil as artillery captain of the São Paulo volunteer legion.
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Joaquim de Oliveira Alvares defeated Artigas's forces at Carumbé.
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Joaquim de Oliveira Alvares distinguished himself at the battle of Catalán.
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Joaquim de Oliveira Alvares lived in London.
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Joaquim de Oliveira Alvares died in Paris aged 59.
Place
Places mentioned · 09
- Algarve
Portugal. Off its coast Alvares fought a French privateer around 1800.
The Algarve is a region of mainland Portugal that supplied many early Madeiran settlers, notably from Boliqueime, and probably cattle. Zarco guarded its coast as captain, and Bartolomeu Perestrelo died there. Simão Gonçalves da Câmara put in there on his aborted voyage to Spain.
- Brazil
Country where Alvares served and later became minister of war.
Brazil is recorded in the Elucidário as a chief destination of Madeiran emigrants, including several clergy and writers. It was also a market for Madeira wine and brandy and a maker of wickerwork from Madeiran osiers. It was linked to Madeira by the 1874 telegraph cable and is the native country of the araçá.
- Catalán
Uruguay. Battle of 1817 in which he distinguished himself.
Battle of 1817 in which he distinguished himself.
- London
United Kingdom. Where he lived 1830–35 and received a large inheritance.
The British capital, the place of publication of many English works on Madeira, including those of the du Canes, Embleton and Bloxam. Mason compared its humidity with Funchal's, and artillery for the Fortress of São Tiago came from there. It hosted the 1909 applied chemistry congress.
- Montevideo
Uruguay. Scene of campaigns in which Alvares fought.
Scene of campaigns in which Alvares fought.
- Paris
France. Where he died in 1835 and is buried at Père Lachaise.
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.
- São Paulo
Brazil. Alvares was artillery captain in its volunteer legion.
A Brazilian city and diocese where the Madeiran Andrade brothers studied and taught law, and where D. Manuel Joaquim Gonçalves de Andrade was bishop. D. Mateus de Abreu Pereira was also its bishop and died there.
- University of Coimbra
Portugal. Where Alvares graduated in mathematics and philosophy.fa
The University of Coimbra, in mainland Portugal, was supported by Madeira through tithes and attended by many Madeirans. Several of them graduated there, mostly in law, and others, such as António da Gama and Vitúrio Lopes Rocha, also taught there. Júlio Augusto Henriques held its chair of botany.
People
People mentioned · 04- Joaquim de Oliveira Álvares1776–1835
Madeiran-born officer who became marshal, lieutenant-general and minister of war of the Brazilian empire.
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Leader whose forces Alvares defeated at the combat of Carumbé in 1816.
- Dr. João Francisco de Oliveira1761–1829
Brother of Alvares, described as another distinguished son of Madeira.
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Commander of the Portuguese squadron in which Alvares served after 1800.