Tojal (Count of)

João Gualberto de Oliveira, 1st Baron and 1st Count of Tojal, was born in this city on 12 July 1788. He was the son of the distinguished Madeiran João Francisco de Oliveira (volume III, page 11) and of Dona Maria Joaquina Farto de Oliveira.

He belonged to an old family of merchants and was himself a leading wine merchant in Funchal when he was elected deputy for Madeira to the legislative session that sat from 1834 to 1836. He was also elected senator for this archipelago in the legislatures of 1838 to 1840 and 1840 to 1842, and in 1843 he took his seat in the upper chamber as a full peer of the realm.

He held the Finance portfolio in 1837–1838, in 1841, from 1842 to 1846 and in 1847, and was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1849 to 1851. He also served on an interim basis in charge of the portfolios of the Navy, of the Kingdom (reino, i.e. mainland Portugal) and of Justice, concurrently with that of Finance.

João de Oliveira stood out remarkably as a parliamentarian and statesman. The speeches he delivered in parliament earned him the standing of a distinguished political orator, revealing not only a notable correctness of form but above all a thorough knowledge of the matters he addressed.

It was as a statesman, directing the affairs of the Treasury, that he most distinguished himself. His name remains bound up (vinculado) with important reforms, and for that reason he holds a prominent place (lugar) in the history of our country’s public finances. His overhaul of many fiscal services – the collection and distribution of taxes, the drawing up of budgets, the contracts with foreign creditors, etc. – reveals his outstanding qualities as a financier and statesman. Even so, as happens to all who engage in party politics, his financial administration came under attack, chiefly from the deputy the Count of Podentes, who in parliament and in two pamphlets (opúsculos) openly criticised every act of João de Oliveira as Minister of Finance. The two volumes of the work entitled Hontem, Hoje, e Amanhã also devote a number of pages to his record as holder of the finance portfolio. The Count of Tojal published a booklet rebutting the accusations made against him, and also published in a pamphlet some of the speeches he had delivered in parliament.

On 4 April 1838 he received the royal grant (mercê) of the title of Baron of Tojal, and on 17 September 1844 that of Count of the same title.

He held many Portuguese and foreign decorations and served as inspector-general of the mails and posts of the Kingdom (reino, i.e. mainland Portugal). He died on 9 February 1852 in Lisbon, where he had established himself as a merchant many years before.

On 27 March 1884 the title of Viscount (visconde) of Tojal was conferred on João Vicente de Oliveira, the relevant decree stating that this honour was granted ‘to perpetuate in his person the memory of the good services rendered to the country by his late cousin the Count of Tojal, of whom he is the only male representative’.