Funchal Commercial Association

The Funchal Commercial Association (Associação Comercial do Funchal) is one of the most important bodies in this city, and also the oldest of all those in existence here. The history of this worthy association is likewise the history of our economic life over the long span of eighty-four years, for the matters of closest concern to Madeiran commerce and industry have found in it their most strenuous champion. It has placed unconditionally at the service of this archipelago all the prestige, influence and credit that it deservedly enjoys in our community. There may have been some rare exception, which will serve only to confirm the general rule.

On 7 July 1835 the governor of Madeira, Luís da Silva Mousinho de Albuquerque, appointed the commission charged with organising and formally installing the Commercial Association. It was made up of João Shortridge, João Coelho de Meireles, Roque Caetano de Araújo, José Phelps and Dr Alexandre de Oliveira. The commission met on 10 July, elected João Shortridge as its president and set about its task without delay. It found the most resolute support among the whole merchant community for an idea that dated back to the days of absolutism.

The association was not formally installed until 20 January 1836, in a house in Rua da Alfândega, which then bore the street number 18. On that same day its board of directors was elected: João Shortridge, president; Roque Caetano de Araújo, vice-president; and the members José Maria Bernes, João António de Gouveia Rego, Joaquim Monteiro de Afonseca, Guilherme Grant, João Coelho de Meireles and João Crisóstomo Ferreira Usel. Its first secretary was Alexandre Luís da Cunha, a language teacher and a well-known journalist in his day.

On the very day of its formal installation and the election of the Managing Board (Mesa Gerente), the statutes were discussed and approved; they received the approval of the central government by royal letter (carta régia) of 12 March 1836. These statutes underwent some modifications, and at the general meeting of 15 December 1887 they were thoroughly revised, receiving approval by royal decree (alvará régio) of 11 May 1888. These statutes are at present the constitution of this estimable association.

The following is the list of the gentlemen who, since its foundation, have presided over the fortunes of the Funchal Commercial Association. They are: João Shortridge (1835–1839), João A. de Gouveia Rego (1839–1841), Roque Caetano de Araújo (1841–1842), João Coelho de Meireles (1842–1843), Guilherme Grant (1843–1845), Dr Alexandre de Oliveira (1845–1847), Edmond Ellicot (1847–1850), Roque Caetano de Araújo (1850–1852), Guilherme Grant (1852–1853), João António de Gouveia Rego (1853–1856), António J. Marques Bastos (1856–1857), Carlos Blandy (1857–1875), Silvano de Freitas Branco (1875–1883), Dr George Sattler (1883–1886), Dr Manuel José Vieira (1886–1888), João B. Blandy (1888–1889), Carlos Bianchi (1889–1892), Dr Manuel José Vieira (1892–1893), Francisco José Nogueira Guimarãis (1893–1895), Manuel António da Silva Passos (1895–1897), Henrique A. Vieira de Castro (1897–1900), Jacob Abudarham (1900–1904), Luís Gomes da Conceição (1904–1911), Luís Fialho de Alvelos (1911–1916), Francisco Meira (1916–1919), Lieutenant Colonel António Bettencourt da Câmara (1919–1920), Dr Rui Bettencourt da Câmara (1920–1922), Henrique Augusto Vieira de Castro (1922–1926), José Quirino de Castro (1926–1934) and Dr Juvenal Henriques de Araújo, the present President.

In 1936 the Funchal Commercial Association celebrated the 1st centenary of its foundation with a variety of splendid commemorations held from 26 to 30 May of that year. The programme included a formal session at the Associação Comercial, a fellowship gathering in aid of the Escola de Artes e Ofícios, lectures on the principal regional industries, and exhibitions of flowers, embroidery, wines, inlaid work (embutidos), butter, cement goods, etc. An issue of four commemorative stamps was also made.

For the occasion the president of the Associação Industrial Portuguesa, José Maria Álvares, came to the island expressly. He also represented the Associação Comercial de Lisboa and the Associação Comercial do Porto, and delivered special messages of greeting. Also coming to Madeira on that occasion was Mr Luís Teixeira, an editor of the Lisbon Diário de Notícias.

The press, both in Funchal and in Lisbon, referred to this anniversary and to the manner in which it was celebrated in the most laudatory terms.