Monteiro (Dr João António)

We know of only two Madeirans who achieved notable distinction in the natural sciences – José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage (vol. I, p. 125) as a zoologist and João António Monteiro as a mineralogist. Both left us several works that bear witness to their profound knowledge of these branches of human learning.

João António Monteiro, whom several foreign authors call ‘the Portuguese savant’, was born in this city on 31 May 1769, the son of the wealthy merchant Pedro Jorge Monteiro and Dona Maria Teresa de Gusmão. He was baptised João António in honour of his godfather, João António de Sá Pereira, then governor and captain-general of this archipelago and later Baron of Alverca. The circumstances of his life are entirely unknown to us until 1791, when he received the degree of doctor in the faculty of philosophy at the University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra). Shortly afterwards he was admitted there as professor of the chair of mineralogy. Since he received the doctoral hood (capelo) at so tender an age, and throughout his life gave constant proof of a most brilliant talent and the most devoted love of work, we must believe that he had been an outstanding student from his first days in primary school.

Dr João António Monteiro taught at the university with notable distinction. His name was placed alongside those of José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva and Manuel José Barjona, who, for the new direction they gave to the teaching of the natural sciences and for the depth of their learning, are regarded as true ornaments of our foremost institution of learning.

Dr Monteiro did not remain long in his teaching career, for he was eager to broaden the range of his knowledge abroad. There he devoted himself entirely to profound studies, which earned him a great reputation in all the scientific centres of Europe. He left the country in 1804 on a long scientific journey through various European countries and never returned to Portugal, for reasons that are today wholly unknown.

By decree of 11 May 1804 he was appointed professor of one of the chairs of the recently founded chemical laboratory of Lisbon, a post which, it seems to us, he never actually took up. Shortly afterwards he was commissioned by our government to make the scientific journey mentioned above, and the corresponding royal letter (carta régia) guaranteed him his seniority, salary and other prerogatives, as if he were actively holding his chair at the University.

Once abroad, he devoted himself entirely to his scientific work. This is attested by the important writings he left scattered across many foreign journals and publications, which were never collected in volume form, as well as by several separate pamphlets.

On the value of Dr Monteiro’s work and his scientific merit, we shall transcribe a few passages from what Dr Joaquim Augusto Simões de Carvalho wrote about him in his Memoria histórica da faculdade de philosophia da Universidade de Coimbra, published in 1872:

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This Portuguese scholar honours his homeland by the breadth of his knowledge, above all in mineralogy. He began his work in Paris, where he published interesting memoirs, and then went to Germany to attend the lectures of the celebrated Werner at Freiberg. There he distinguished himself by important scientific studies in crystallography and the natural history of minerals, so much so that he earned honourable citations from celebrated German and French mineralogists.

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At a session of the Philomathic Society in Paris, Haüy and Binet presented a highly flattering report on a memoir by this illustrious Madeiran, which dealt with the direct determination of a new variety of the crystalline form of carbonate of lime and the remarkable properties it displays.

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Haüy, in his treatise on mineralogy and in many memoirs, always cites Dr Monteiro’s observations and work with the highest praise. The memoir on “red sulphurated arsenic” published by the eminent French mineralogist in the Annaes do Museu de Historia Natural is based entirely on communications from our learned compatriot.

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The memoir on many new varieties of topaz, published by Dr João António Monteiro in the collection of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Bavaria, earned him a diploma of membership of that illustrious scientific body. ‘Schrauf, in his treatise on physical mineralogy, Friedrich Mohs, in his fundamental principles of mineralogy, Haiduiger, in his manual of mineralogy, and many others among the most respected and authoritative writers of Germany, refer in honourable terms to the work of Dr Monteiro and of his illustrious contemporary José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva.

Besides the scientific works already cited, the Diccionario Bibliographico of Inocêncio Francisco da Silva mentions the Memória sobre o fluato de cal do Vesuvio and a translation of Dr Jenner’s celebrated work on vaccination, published in Lisbon in 1803, not counting the countless writings he left in the proceedings of many foreign scientific societies.

Dr João António Monteiro, one of the most illustrious sons of this land, died in Paris in 1834, at the age of 65.