Oliveira (Francisco Manuel de) 1Poet and teacher
Oliveira (Francisco Manuel de)
Francisco Manuel de Oliveira was an eighteenth-century Madeiran poet and teacher who held the public chair of philosophy in Funchal from 1772. He is remembered for introducing Oriental poetry to Portugal through translations made from English versions.
1Poet and teacher
In his own day he enjoyed a certain reputation as a poet, but today his name is entirely forgotten. Inocêncio Francisco da Silva classed him as a poet of the second rank, saying that his compositions were not altogether bad and that he deserved credit for making known in Portugal the first examples of a genre until then wholly unknown there. The author of the ‘Portuguese Bibliographical Dictionary’ (Dicionário Bibliográfico Português) is referring to Oliveira’s translation, made from the English text, of various poems written in some of the Oriental languages of India. Francisco Manuel de Oliveira was born on this island in the second quarter of the 18th century and died shortly before 1819.
When the public chair (aula pública, state-funded teaching post) of philosophy was created in this city in 1772, Francisco Manuel de Oliveira was appointed to the chair, which he held for many years. He was retired on a pension by a ministerial order (portaria) of 3 April 1799. We believe that he also taught at the Diocesan Seminary, since he delivered an address there at the opening of classes in 1786. We know of no other details of his life.
2Works and family
Inocêncio da Silva gives the following list of the works published by Oliveira:
- Escolha de Poesias Orientaes. . . seguidas de outras varias rimas, Lisbon, 1793, pp. 61–138
- Colleção Poetica, vol. II, Lisbon, 1794, 173 pp., a continuation of the preceding volume
- Oração... na inauguração do Seminário do Funchal, Lisbon, 1787, 40 pp.
- Ensaio poetico sobre a harmonia do mundo..., Lisbon, 1805, 120 pp.
- Princípios elementares da língua Inglesa. . ., Lisbon, 1809, 255 pp.
- and the translation of the Avisos interessantes á humanidade ..., Lisbon, 1788.
In the time of Governor Botelho, a daughter of Francisco Manuel de Oliveira was granted an allowance equal to a third of the salary her father had received, in recognition of his services and of the poverty to which she had been reduced.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 05-
Public classes in philosophy, Latin, mathematics and rhetoric were created in Funchal, with Francisco Manuel de Oliveira appointed to the chair of philosophy.
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Francisco Manuel de Oliveira gave an opening address at the Diocesan Seminary.
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Francisco Manuel de Oliveira published Escolha de Poesias Orientaes in Lisbon.
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Francisco Manuel de Oliveira was retired from his chair by ministerial order.
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Francisco Manuel de Oliveira died shortly before this year.
Place
Places mentioned · 02
Abroad
- Funchal
City where Oliveira taught philosophy and where the seminary was inaugurated.
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. Place of publication of Oliveira's works.
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-
Madeiran poet and professor of philosophy in Funchal (1772–1799), translator of Oriental poetry into Portuguese.
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Governor of Madeira in whose time Oliveira's daughter was granted a subsidy.
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Author of the Dicionário Bibliográfico Português, who judged Oliveira a second-rank poet and listed his works.