Governing Junta of Madeira in 1847

The popular revolt that broke out in the province of Minho in 1846 and spread rapidly to other parts of the country became known in our history as the Maria da Fonte revolution. After a provisional government was set up in the city of Porto under the name of the Governing Junta of Porto (Junta Governativa do Porto), other juntas acting as its delegates were organised in various towns and cities. Their aim was to support the revolutionary movement, which sought to overthrow the government of the Cabrais and to cancel the great influence it enjoyed in the spheres of power. There followed a truly calamitous period of civil war, which threatened to drag on indefinitely had it not been for the intervention of certain foreign powers.

The revolution found its echo in Madeira in the early hours of 29 April 1847, when the troops of the garrison rose and, on the old public promenade, solemnly declared their adherence to the revolution and to the Governing Junta of Porto. At five o’clock that morning, in the courtyard of the Hospital of St Elizabeth of Portugal, the Municipal Council (Câmara Municipal), various officials, some persons of standing and a good number of ordinary people gathered, with the armed force posted a few metres away. They proclaimed the principles of the revolution, declared their adherence to the Junta of Porto and named the Governing Junta of Madeira. It was made up of Luís de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, president; Francisco Correia Heredia, vice-president; Diogo Berenguer; Luís Agostinho de Figueiroa; Dr José Júlio Rodrigues; and António Correia Heredia, secretary. As Luís de Ornelas e Vasconcelos withdrew from the Junta’s work at once, its presidency was assumed, until its dissolution, by Francisco Correia Heredia, holder of an entail (morgado). The civil governor of the district at the time was the meritorious Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) José Silvestre Ribeiro. Refusing to join the revolutionary movement, he immediately left office and withdrew to the Quinta do Pico de São João and later to the Quinta do Deão, placing himself under the hospitality offered to him by two British subjects living there.

From the very first moments of its formation the Governing Junta of Madeira displayed an astonishing energy, which seems to have surpassed the labours of its counterparts organised in many parts of Portugal. It appointed Manuel Joaquim da Costa Andrade, a teacher at the Lyceum (Liceu), as civil governor. He resigned shortly after taking up the post and was replaced by Lieutenant-Colonel Manuel José Júlio Guerra, who had also been appointed military commander of Madeira. Dr António Ribeiro Pacheco Nunes, Dr Luís da Costa Pereira and Dr Juvenal Honório de Ornelas were appointed deputy crown prosecutor, president of the Council and health officer (delegado de saúde) respectively. Many public officials were dismissed and replaced by individuals who had joined the revolutionary movement or embraced the principles proclaimed by the Junta of Porto. Some officers of the garrison were advanced in rank, and several sergeants were promoted to second lieutenant. The governing action of the Madeira Junta was at times felt in a truly arbitrary manner in many branches of public administration, provoking vigorous protests from the people, despite the discretionary powers with which the Junta had invested itself. According to a document of the period, it left the public coffers of the district completely exhausted.

As the civil war dragged on, England, Spain and France resolved to intervene in the internal affairs of our country, putting an end to the anarchy that was spreading everywhere. On 23 June the English frigate of war Thetis appeared in the port of Funchal, and her commander demanded the immediate dissolution of the Governing Junta of Madeira. The Junta dissolved itself on 14 July 1847, addressing a proclamation on that occasion to all the inhabitants of this archipelago.

On 21 July the English warships Terrible and Recruit and the French frigate Armide anchored in our harbour. On the 26th of the same month their commanders handed over the government of the district to Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) José Silvestre Ribeiro. The ceremony, held in the Palácio de São Lourenço (St Lawrence Palace), was conducted with the greatest solemnity, and there were various demonstrations of rejoicing on that occasion.

On 11 August, the revolutionary movement having already ended, the steam warship D. Luiz anchored in the bay of Funchal from the city of Porto, carrying on board the 6th Battalion of Caçadores (Portuguese light infantry) under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel José Marques Salgueiral.

On this subject, see the pamphlet by Lieutenant-Colonel Alberto Artur Sarmento entitled Maria da Fonte na Madeira.