Távora (D. Álvaro José Xavier Botelho de)

D. Álvaro Botelho de Távora was the Count of S. Miguel and was appointed governor and captain general of Madeira on July 21, 1751, taking office on August 27 of the same year. He found many abuses in all branches of public administration, which he sought to correct and reform. He left the government on May 6, 1754, to take up the position of governor of the province of Goyás, in Brazil. He died on April 24, 1789, having governed Madeira for less than three years.