Lapierre (Lieutenant)
Original title: Lapierre. (Tenente)
Lieutenant Lapierre, an officer of the 6th Caçadores battalion, was murdered by mutinous soldiers at the Colégio barracks in Funchal on 31 July 1852. He was killed while defending his commander, who was the mutineers' real target.
An officer of the 6th Caçadores (Portuguese light infantry) battalion who was murdered at the barracks of the College (Colégio) by soldiers of that battalion on 31 July 1852. It is said that the mutineers actually meant to kill the commander, but the lieutenant stood up to them. This gave a quartermaster-sergeant (furriel) time to shut the door through which the soldiery had to pass to reach the commander’s room, and gave the commander, warned of what was happening, time to flee.
The quartermaster-sergeant in question was called Miguel Fernandes. For many years he was inspector of the Praça de São Pedro, and he was decorated by the government for having saved his commander from the fury of the unruly soldiery.
The newspapers of the day did not dare to comment on the excesses of the 6th Caçadores battalion, but years later a Madeiran periodical stated that these excesses had been instigated by civilians, with the aim of driving out of the island the commander, who belonged to the Regenerator party.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 01Place
Places mentioned · 02
- Colégio Barracks
Funchal. Barracks in the former Jesuit college where Lieutenant Lapierre was murdered.
Barracks in Funchal occupying the former Jesuit college, where Lieutenant Lapierre was murdered. It bears a plaque to João de Andrade.
- Praça de São Pedro
Funchal. Square where Miguel Fernandes later served for many years as inspector.
Praça de São Pedro in Funchal was the site of the former fish market (Praça do Peixe), later replaced by the Mercado União. The Elucidário records the 1851 slaughterhouse built next to it, a Fiscal Guard post there, and that it was the probable site of the Rua do Peixe gate.
People
People mentioned · 02- Lapierred. 1852
Lieutenant of the 6th Caçadores battalion, killed by mutinous soldiers at the Colégio barracks on 31 July 1852 while defending his commander.
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Furriel who shut the door against the mutineers in 1852 and so saved his commander; he was later decorated by the government and served for many years as inspector of the Praça de São Pedro.