Gouveia (João)
Biography of João Gouveia (b. 1880), Funchal-born poet who abandoned verse for mechanics, inventing an aeroplane and later a poultry incubating apparatus.
He was born in this city on 8 February 1880, the son of Colonel José Maria de Gouveia and Dona Elisa Camacho de Gouveia. His poetic gift awoke early, but he also soon stopped cultivating poetry. We do not know what led him to abandon the literary career he had begun so auspiciously. He published the volumes Breviário, Funchal, 1900, 112 pp., and Atlante, Lisbon, 1903, 108 pp.
It seems that João Gouveia closed his soul to the inspiration of the Muses in order to devote himself more fully to the study of mechanics, and especially to building the aeroplane he had invented. The newspapers wrote at length and with the highest praise about this invention, but it seems that serious and insurmountable difficulties arose in its construction.
João Gouveia has lived in Lisbon for many years, and has lately turned his attention to building a poultry apparatus that has aroused great interest among all those engaged in the artificial rearing of chickens. (1921).
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 03Place
Places mentioned · 02
Abroad
- Funchal
Birthplace of João Gouveia.
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. City where he lived for many years.
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.
People
People mentioned · 03- João Maurício de Gouveiab. 1880
Madeiran poet, author of Breviário and Atlante, later an inventor of an aeroplane design and a poultry apparatus.
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Mother of João Gouveia.
- José Maria de Gouveia1856–1930
Infantry colonel and father of João Gouveia.