Canavial (Count of)

João da Câmara Leme Homem de Vasconcelos, 1st Viscount and 1st Count of Canavial, was one of the most distinguished Madeirans of the 19th century. He was born in this city on 22 June 1829, the son of António Francisco da Câmara Leme Homem de Vasconcelos, holder of an entail (morgado), and of Dona Carolina Moniz de Ornelas Barreto Cabral, both of whom belonged to old and noble families of this island.

Having completed his secondary studies in Funchal, he went to Montpellier, where he took the degree of bachelor (bacharel, university graduate) in science in 1852 and that of doctor of medicine in 1857, proving himself throughout a most diligent student of exceptional intelligence. His astonishing energy, which remained one of the hallmarks of his character until his death, allowed him, while still a student in both Madeira and France, to devote himself to various literary and scientific works. Eloquent proof of this lies in his regular contributions to several reviews and newspapers, in his translation of Alexandre Dumas’s drama O Conde de Herman, published in a volume of 250 pages, and in the Etudes sur les ombellifères venéneuses, 1 volume of 218 pages, which earned a favourable report from the Academy of Sciences and Letters of Montpellier and a place as a member of that Academy.

After completing his doctorate he continued his scientific studies. In 1858, in an international competition and despite being a foreigner, he won fourth prize for the long memoir he wrote on the subject Des rapports de l’alimentation avec la respiration. Existe-t-il des aliments qui méritent le nom de respiratoires? He also wrote a substantial study entitled De la température de l’homme et des animaux, which received an honourable mention from the Imperial Academy of Medicine in Paris; a detailed memoir entitled Quelques considérations ayant pour but de démontrer que la théorie des combustions jette un grand jour sur plusieurs points du domaine de la pathologie, which remained in manuscript but served as his qualifying work for admission to a scientific society; and a valuable prize-winning work under the heading De la chaleur animale. There were also other studies scattered through the specialist journals. All of this opened the doors of many academies and scientific societies, both in our country and abroad.

In 1859 he revalidated his degree by examination at the Lisbon Medical School. The following year he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy at our own Medical School, and in 1867 full professor. As professor and director of that School he had to sustain several disputes with his teaching colleagues, and he published two large volumes on the matter which, however partial they may perhaps be, are works of undeniable value. As a practitioner he enjoyed a great reputation and was regarded by all as an eminent physician. He and Dr Luz Pita were, with no offence to anyone, the two great medical celebrities of Madeira in the 19th century. The breadth of his learning and his great clinical tact earned him the standing of a man of superior calibre in the field of medicine. The Count of Canavial repeatedly engaged in press controversies with some of his colleagues, writing various pamphlets, all of which reveal rare talent and vast erudition.

Like other outstanding men, he also trod the tortuous paths of politics, rendering fruitless so many admirable gifts of talent and learning that, in another field, would have been of great benefit and consequence to all. A considerable part of his life was absorbed by barren parochial politics, which drew him into fierce battles in the press. He edited many newspapers and published various pamphlets, in which he showed himself a polemicist of tough temper and an astonishingly prolific writer. In this respect his output is vast, and his language was always correct and elegant, though devoid of great refinements of style.

As head of the district, he was among the most active and zealous of those who have led the administration of this archipelago. He worked, and worked tirelessly, for the advancement and prosperity of his homeland, although he did not achieve as much as his efforts and endeavours might have led one to expect. While governor of Madeira he wrote a book entitled Apontamentos para o estudo da crise agricola no distrito do Funchal, which can still be read and consulted with profit today.

The great energy of his mind also showed itself in his work as an intelligent industrialist. He promoted and directed the founding of the ‘Companhia Fabril de Assucar Madeirense’ and introduced a notable improvement in the processes for making spirit (aguardente, distilled from sugar cane or wine), so that the raw material used could be better exploited. This improvement, for which he obtained a patent, gave rise to disputes and controversies, and he published several pamphlets on the subject. He also carried out useful studies on the treatment and refining of wines, and on this subject too he wrote an interesting book and published long articles in the newspapers.

The ‘Companhia Fabril de Assucar Madeirense’ would have been a great source of prosperity for our island had it not been for the unfair and spiteful war waged against it. This remarkable man – at once practitioner, professor, public servant, man of science, journalist and writer, politician and industrialist, who in all these spheres of human activity displayed the qualities of an exceptionally gifted mind – might have been great among the great had petty and sterile political and personal quarrels not, at times, taken up too much of his vast and robust intellect.

The Count of Canavial died in this city on 13 February 1902, not quite 73 years of age.

Bibliography – By far the greater part of his writings, which would fill many volumes, lies scattered through the newspapers of the day and deals largely with sterile parish-pump politics, on which he spent the most vital energies of his great talent and his astonishing activity. These journalistic writings also include the countless articles he wrote about his inventions and industrial improvements, and on medical subjects, some of which were later published as pamphlets. To this end he was the editor and proprietor of several periodicals, such as A Liberdade (‘Liberty’), O Distrito do Funchal (‘The District of Funchal’), A Luz (‘Light’) and others besides.

The idea of raising a monument to the Count of Canavial in this city emerged recently (1921). To that end a meeting was held in the first days of October 1920 to agree on how to pay a public and fitting tribute to our illustrious fellow countryman and to perpetuate the memory of his name among us. The initiative came from our compatriot Dr Abel Capitolino Baptista.

At the end of the avenue named after ‘Dr. Manuel de Arriaga’, opposite the churchyard of the Cathedral (Sé Catedral), there stands (1923), on a finely worked marble pedestal, the bronze bust of the Count of Canavial. It was unveiled on 2 March 1922, the ceremony of laying the monument’s foundation stone having taken place on 1

December of the previous year.

A few years ago this monument was moved to Campo da Barca (‘boat field’) and placed near the Disinfection Station.

To complement what has been said above, see the articles Association for the Protection and Education of the Women of Funchal (Associação de Protecção e Instrução do Sexo Feminino Funchalense), Companhia Fabril de Assucar Madeirense and Estufas in this Elucidário.