Bettencourt (Nicolau Anastácio de)

This distinguished Madeiran was born in the parish (freguesia) of São Pedro (‘St Peter’) in this city on 7 February 1810, the son of Dr Anastácio Moniz de Bettencourt and Dona Ana Rosa Bettencourt.

The father of Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) Nicolau Anastácio was a highly distinguished physician and a man of letters well known and admired in his day. The author of ‘The Zarco Epic’ (Zargueida) dedicated a sonnet to him in the introduction to his poem Georgeida. Whatever hyperbole there may be in those verses, they nonetheless show the esteem in which he was held and the good name he enjoyed among his contemporaries.

The subject of this biography inherited a brilliant talent from his father. He revealed it at a very early age and later gave clear proof of it as a student at the University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra).

Having lost his father at a tender age, he went to Coimbra in 1825, accompanied by his mother, to enrol in the faculty of philosophy and then follow the medical course.

In 1827 he abandoned his studies to enlist in the academic battalion under the command of the Count of Vila Flor, and, fighting against the royalist forces, he took a heroic part in the actions of Cruz de Alvoroços and Ponte de Vouga. Sharing the fate of his comrades in arms, he had to leave Portugal and went into exile in England in 1828. It was there that he received the news of his mother’s death, which struck his devoted son’s heart a cruel blow.

On 14 February 1829 he arrived on the island of Terceira, enlisted in the Queen’s Volunteers Battalion, and on 11 August of the same year he took part in the action at the town (vila) of Praia between a Miguelite (supporter of the absolutist King Miguel) squadron and the liberals, in which the latter were victorious.

He was not indifferent to the expedition prepared on Terceira to free the other Azorean islands still subject to the yoke of absolutism. He joined it as a volunteer, always conducting himself with courage, and was present at the action of Ladeira Velha, on São Miguel, on 2 August 1831.

Nicolau Anastácio de Bettencourt was on the island of Terceira when Pedro IV, Emperor of Brazil, landed there on 3 March 1832 to organise the liberal army that was to fight the absolutist forces and then establish the constitutional system in our country.

The liberating army landed on the beaches of Mindelo on 8 July 1832. Our illustrious subject was part of it, and during the memorable siege of Porto he gave proof of his great daring and valour. Above all, in the celebrated action of the Serra do Pilar on 13 August 1832, Nicolau Anastácio showed his courage and worth: a detachment of volunteers to which he belonged earned the highest praise from General Torres, who recommended these bold volunteers to the government for reward. There he fought with true heroism alongside José Estêvão Coelho de Magalhães, Júlio Máximo de Oliveira Pimentel, José Silvestre Ribeiro and others, who later distinguished themselves so greatly among us in various fields of human endeavour.

Once constitutional government had been established, Nicolau Bettencourt was appointed secretary-general of the prefecture (prefeitura) of Angra and later transferred to the same post in the district of Ponta Delgada (‘slender point’). There he also served for seven years as administrator-general (administrador geral) and civil governor, winning the deepest esteem of those he governed by the way in which he carried out the duties of his high office.

After serving for some time as civil governor of Aveiro, to which he had been appointed by decree of 23 November 1843, he was placed at the head of the district of Angra do Heroísmo on 1 December 1844. He rendered the most signal and valuable services to the island of Terceira, which he regarded as his second homeland.

It was there that his administrative judgement and enterprising genius shone most brilliantly, as the Caixa Económica (savings bank) and the Infant Asylum (Asilo da Infância) that he founded in the capital of that district eloquently show.

On the occasion of his death, an Azorean newspaper wrote of these two institutions: ‘His name is today blessed for the benefits and most useful effects that generally flow from them, so much so that, a few months ago, the Caixa Económica of Angra offered the hospital of the Misericórdia (Holy House of Mercy, a lay charitable brotherhood) about two contos de réis (conto: one million réis) for a model ward, which is to bear the name of that benefactor, while the municipality gave the same name to one of the city’s streets, out of the pressing duty to commend him to public gratitude and respect.

The foundation of that house of charity and that credit establishment alone would suffice to make him unforgettable. The laborious effort it required can be judged from the fact that, at the time they were founded (1844-53), the scope of public assistance, of charitable and relief associations, and of the morally uplifting popular savings banks was still scarcely understood.

During the twelve years in which he administered the district of Angra almost without interruption, he never ceased to work devotedly and persistently for the advancement and prosperity of his adopted homeland. He gave a great impetus to education, founding schools, contributing much to the organisation of the national lyceum (state secondary school) and encouraging with his inspiring words all those who devoted themselves to literary pursuits.

It was during his governorship, and owing to his influence, that the customs house, the national lyceum, the law courts, the public prisons, etc., were properly established.

One of the enduring monuments to his glory is the foundation of the Asilo da Infância Desvalida (asylum for destitute children), to which he left his name indissolubly linked, endowing the city of Angra with a most important charitable establishment that spreads countless benefits there.

He was then civil governor of the district of Horta, and was elected deputy for it in 1853 in recognition of the services he had rendered to its inhabitants.

Declining the seat, he nevertheless accepted the post of civil governor of Aveiro, leaving entailed to his governorship the creation of a savings bank, which is a flourishing institution and has rendered valuable services to that city.

He was also civil governor of Portalegre, where he ended his administrative career, retiring in July 1862 and settling in Angra do Heroísmo.

Although not a writer of renown, Anastácio Bettencourt did have considerable literary gifts, which he displayed brilliantly in various writings scattered through the newspapers and in his speeches, which remained unpublished and were distinguished by the purity and elegance of their language. He is also known to have been an esteemed poet, writing inspired and beautiful verse. In 1848 he published a collection of various administrative writings, and Inocêncio Francisco da Silva attributes to him the volume published in 1857 under the title Esposição de factos que se deram no districto de Angra do Heroísmo etc.

He held the title of Councillor (carta de conselho), was a fidalgo-knight of the Royal Household (fidalgo cavaleiro da Casa Real) and a commander of various orders. He died in the city of Angra do Heroísmo on 7 March 1874.