Costa Dias (Manuel da)
Madeiran army officer, military administration author and deputy for Madeira (1915–17), born in Ponta do Pargo in 1883 and died in Lisbon in 1930.
He was born in the parish (freguesia) of Ponta do Pargo (‘sea bream point’) on 18 October 1883 and attended the diocesan seminary, the Funchal lyceum (state secondary school), the industrial institute and the Army School. He spent some time in Brazil before enrolling at the lyceum, and while a pupil there he edited the republican newspaper O Democrata (‘The Democrat’). He served in Africa soon after completing his military studies, was a professor at the Escola de Guerra and represented Madeira in Parliament in the legislative session of 1915 to 1917. Works:
- As subsistencias no exercito aliado anglo-luso, Lisbon, 1909
- Colonizaçao dos Planaltos de Angola, Lisbon, 1913
- Guerra Peninsular, 1808-1811
- O Serviço de Subsistencias no Exercito Anglo-Luso, 1 vol., 1913
- Administração Militar, 1 vol., 3rd edn, 1918
- Flandres, 1 vol., 1920.
He died in Lisbon in 1930, holding the rank of major in the Military Administration.
The Diario da Madeira of 12 October 1930 published a detailed biographical article about this distinguished Madeiran.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 03Place
Places mentioned · 05
Abroad
- Africa
Where he served after his military studies.
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.
- Brazil
Where he lived for a time before the lyceum.
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.
- Funchal
Where he attended the lyceum.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Where his works were published and where he died.
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.
- Ponta do Pargo
Calheta. His birthplace.
Ponta do Pargo is a parish at Madeira's western extremity, transferred from Porto do Moniz to Calheta municipality in 1871, where a lighthouse long demanded was first lit in 1922. It is watered by the old Rabaçal levada, grows Sercial vines, gives its name to a white cattle sub-breed, and was the birthplace of Manuel da Costa Dias and João Pestana Júnior.
People
People mentioned · 01- Manuel da Costa Dias1883–1930
Madeiran army officer, lecturer at the Escola de Guerra, deputy for Madeira in 1915–17 and author on military supply; died a major in Lisbon in 1930.