Róscio (Francisco João)
Biography of Francisco João Róscio (c.1740–1805), a Madeira-born military engineer who served in Portugal and Brazil, worked on the southern Brazilian boundary demarcation and, as governor of São Pedro do Sul, checked a Spanish advance.
Life and career of Francisco João Róscio
We know of this Madeiran from the extensive account Sousa Viterbo gives of him on pages 477 ff. of the Diccionario Historico e Documental dos Architectos, Engenheiros e Construtores Portugueses.
Francisco Róscio was born on this island around 1740, the son of Manuel Gonçalves Róscio, a native of Tenerife, and of Maria da Graça Rodrigues Jardim, a native of the parish (freguesia) of Arco da Calheta (‘arc of Calheta’). He studied at the Military Academy in Lisbon, and in 1762 was appointed infantry adjutant. He then served as a military engineer in the strongholds of Almeida and Elvas, showing remarkable competence, for which he was praised by the eminent engineer Jacques Funk, who had come from abroad expressly to direct the works on our fortifications. Róscio afterwards formed part of a commission of engineers sent to Brazil, where he again gave proof of his energy and knowledge. After 12 years away he returned to Portugal, then went back to Brazil to carry out the important mission of commissioner for the boundary demarcations in southern Brazil. He discharged it with the greatest zeal and competence, despite the enormous difficulties that arose at the time.
His energy and rare skill showed themselves brilliantly in São Pedro do Sul, as governor of that state, in the face of threats from the Spanish governor, the Marquis of Sobremontes: he halted the invading march of his troops and then succeeded in making peace, winning for Portugal some two hundred square léguas of territory.
He died in Brazil on 10 October 1805, after a very eventful life full of toil, having rendered his country the most distinguished services.
He left two manuscript works dealing chiefly with his scientific work and the commissions he carried out, of which Sousa Viterbo gives detailed accounts.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 03Place
Places mentioned · 07
Abroad
- Almeida
Portugal. Fortress town where Róscio served as military engineer.
Fortress town in mainland Portugal. It was the birthplace of António Garcia Gamboa, and Francisco João Róscio served there as a military engineer.
- Arco da Calheta
Calheta. Home parish of Róscio's mother.
Arco da Calheta is a parish in the municipality of Calheta, created in 1572 around the chapel of São Brás, whose church holds sixteenth-century paintings. The Elucidário covers its early settlers such as the Andrades, sugar estates, chapels, entails, unrest in 1834 and 1887, and irrigation by the Rabaçal and Pico da Urze levadas.
- Brazil
Where Róscio served on engineering and boundary commissions and died.
Brazil is recorded in the Elucidário as a chief destination of Madeiran emigrants, including several clergy and writers. It was also a market for Madeira wine and brandy and a maker of wickerwork from Madeiran osiers. It was linked to Madeira by the 1874 telegraph cable and is the native country of the araçá.
- Elvas
Portugal. Fortress town where Róscio served as military engineer.
Elvas is a fortress town and diocese in mainland Portugal. Several bishops of Funchal were transferred to its see, among them D. Lourenço de Távora in 1617 and D. José da Costa Torres in 1796, and Dr Joaquim de Menezes e Ataíde was named its bishop in 1821. It was the birthplace of the musician Duarte Joaquim dos Santos, José Gerardo Ferreira Passos and António Rogério Gromicho Couceiro, and Francisco João Róscio served there as a military engineer.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Where Róscio studied at the Military Academy.
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.
- São Pedro do Sul
Paraguay. Brazilian territory Róscio governed and defended against Spain.
Brazilian territory Róscio governed and defended against Spain.
- Tenerife
Spain. Birthplace of Róscio's father.
Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands. The Elucidário notes its celebrated Orotava dragon tree, felled by a gale on 23 January 1868, the introduction of the boganga to Madeira from there in 1836 or 1837, and the blending there of Madeira wine with cheap local wine. It was also a source of Canarian immigrants to Madeira.
People
People mentioned · 06- Francisco João Róscioc. 1740–1805
Madeira-born military engineer who served in Portugal and Brazil and governed São Pedro do Sul; subject of this entry.
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Foreign engineer who directed Portuguese fortification works and praised Róscio's competence.
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Native of Tenerife and father of Francisco João Róscio.
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Native of Arco da Calheta parish and mother of Francisco João Róscio.
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Spanish governor whose invading troops were halted by Róscio in southern Brazil.
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Author of the Diccionario Historico e Documental dos Architectos, Engenheiros e Construtores Portugueses, the source for this biography.