March (John Howard)
Original title: March (João Howard)
Biography of John Howard March, an American merchant and sometime consul in Funchal renowned for his philanthropy, including aid during the 1846–47 famine.
In the article Englishmen (p. 164) we made a brief reference to John Howard March, saying that he was of English nationality, whereas in fact he was born in the United States of North America and was a citizen of that country. He was a wealthy merchant in Funchal and on several occasions served as American consul. He became well known here in Madeira for his great acts of benevolence. He not only relieved the poor of this land and some of its charitable institutions with extraordinary generosity, but also contributed liberally to various public improvements, the upkeep of schools, etc. Although a Protestant, he rebuilt the church of Santo da Serra (‘the saint of the uplands’) and the large churchyard surrounding it. In 1828 he lent the money needed to pay the Miguelite troops who had seized Funchal, while at the same time sheltering many Constitutionalists in his house to protect them from persecution by the Absolutists. During the famine that ravaged this island in 1846 and 1847 he rendered notable services and did much to ensure the success of the subscriptions opened in this archipelago and abroad for the poor of Madeira.
Because he was a republican, the Portuguese government could not at that time honour him with any of the degrees of the military orders then existing, and so it had a special gold medal struck to reward the notable services rendered by this North American citizen.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02-
A Miguelist expedition under Colonel José António de Azevedo Lemos landed at Machico and occupied Madeira, proclaiming absolutism; Governor Valdez and liberal leaders took refuge aboard the British frigate Alligator.
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Madeira suffered the 'year of hunger', a famine caused by potato disease amid agricultural and commercial crisis, killing a large part of the population; João Howard March helped organise relief subscriptions.
Place
Places mentioned · 03
Abroad
- Church of Santo da Serra
Machico. Church and churchyard rebuilt at March's expense.
Church and churchyard rebuilt at March's expense.
- Funchal
Where March traded and which Miguelist troops seized in 1828.
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.
- United States of America
March's country of birth and nationality.
The United States of America was a destination of Madeiran emigration from 1753 and a major source of remittances, the largest importer of Madeira embroidery by 1923, and the largest source of donated provisions during the 1846–47 famine. Several Madeirans lived there in exile, including Dr João Francisco de Oliveira and Dr Lourenço José Moniz, and some fleeing freemasons emigrated there in 1792. It was also João Howard March's country of birth, and Marítimo was invited to visit.
People
People mentioned · 01-
American-born merchant and occasional US consul in Funchal, honoured with a special gold medal for his charity.