Garcia Ramos (Acursio)
Azorean-born military physician and teacher at the Funchal Medical-Surgical School, author of 'Ilha da Madeira' (1880), who was imprisoned in 1874 on political charges later found groundless.
He was born on the island of Terceira in 1834. For some years he lived in Funchal, serving as a military physician. In 1872 he was appointed acting professor at the Medical-Surgical School (Escola Médico-Cirúrgica) of this city and physician of the Misericórdia (Holy House of Mercy, a lay charitable brotherhood) hospital. A serious conflict arose between him and the Administrative Committee (Comissão Administrativa) of the Holy House (Santa Casa, the Misericórdia). For this reason Dr Acursio Ramos published in 1874 a pamphlet entitled O Hospital de Santa Isabel da cidade do Funchal visto á luz da hygiene. In 1880 he published in Lisbon the work A Ilha da Madeira (‘The Island of Madeira’), in two volumes of 276 and 200 pp. He left other printed works.
Having become involved in Madeira’s political struggles, his enemies prevailed on Colonel António Augusto de Macedo e Couto to have him imprisoned in the Forte do Ilhéu (Islet Fort). He was accused of seeking to stir anarchy in the 12th Caçadores (Portuguese light infantry) Battalion (batalhão de caçadores n.° 12) and of being the soul of a Masonic plot to hand the island over to the Americans. From there he was sent to Lisbon, where he was confined in São Jorge Castle (Castelo de São Jorge) and then in the tower of the Fort of São Julião da Barra (St Julian's Fort). Arrested on 19 April 1874, Dr Acursio regained his freedom only on 8 December of the same year, after the board of inquiry into the ridiculous case brought against him by the said Colonel Macedo e Couto declared that there were no grounds for a court martial. He died in Lisbon on 14 September 1892.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 05-
Acúrsio Garcia Ramos was born on Terceira.
-
Acúrsio Garcia Ramos became interim professor at the Funchal Medical-Surgical School and physician of the Misericórdia hospital.
-
Acúrsio Garcia Ramos published a pamphlet on the hygiene of the Santa Isabel hospital in Funchal, which drew replies from Júlio Augusto Leiria and Francisco Clementino de Sousa.
-
Acúrsio Garcia Ramos was arrested on accusations of subverting the 12th Caçadores battalion and of a masonic plot, and was freed in December when the charges were found groundless.
-
Acúrsio Garcia Ramos published 'Ilha da Madeira' in two volumes in Lisbon.
-
Acúrsio Garcia Ramos died in Lisbon.
Place
Places mentioned · 07
Abroad
- Fort of São Julião da Barra
Portugal. Fort near Lisbon where he was later held.
The Forte de São Julião da Barra is a fortress near Lisbon guarding the harbour, which Tristão Vaz da Veiga surrendered to the Spanish. It later served as a prison, holding Acursio Garcia Ramos, José Ferreira Pestana before deportation, and Aires de Ornelas de Vasconcelos for monarchist activity.
- Funchal
City where he served as military physician and teacher.
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.
- Ilhéu Fort
Funchal. Fort where he was first imprisoned.
The Forte do Ilhéu is a fortified islet at Funchal, listed as a hazard on the south coast. Acursio Garcia Ramos was first imprisoned there, and waves reached its esplanade in 1842.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Where he published his book and 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.
- St Elizabeth’s Hospital
Funchal. Misericórdia hospital criticised in his 1874 pamphlet.
The Misericórdia's hospital in Funchal, begun after 1686, which gave its name to the Rua do Hospital Velho. It was used for 240 years and sold to the Junta Geral in 1933. It was criticised in an 1874 pamphlet, and its regulations were printed in 1819 and 1840.
- St George’s Castle
Portugal. Lisbon castle where he was held.
The Castelo de São Jorge is a castle in Lisbon used as a prison. Acursio Garcia Ramos was held there, as were the corregedor at the time of the Alçada of 1823 and Arsénio Pompílio Pompeu do Carpo in 1846.
- Terceira
Portugal. Azorean island where Garcia Ramos was born.
An Azorean island that served as the Liberal base where D. Pedro's expedition assembled and from which the force occupying Porto Santo came. Nicolau Pita was banished there, João Bettencourt de Vasconcellos was executed there and Acursio Garcia Ramos was born there.
People
People mentioned · 02- Acúrsio Garcia Ramos1834–1892
Military physician and interim professor at the Funchal Medical-Surgical School, author of works on the Santa Isabel hospital and on Madeira.
-
Colonel who had Garcia Ramos arrested in 1874 on charges of subversion later declared groundless.