João Leitão
desembargador · governor-general of Madeira · treasury provedor
Royal judge (desembargador) sent by the Spanish government to investigate events at Philip II's proclamation in Madeira, who became the first governor-general of the island under Philippine rule. He arrived in 1582 and served until 1585, also becoming treasury provedor. His entry discusses Damião Peres's argument that he was governor only de facto and not by formal appointment.
1Mentioned in
- Donataries — Desembargador sent by the Spanish government to investigate events at Philip II's proclamation in Madeira.
- Customs houses — First Philippine governor-general of Madeira, who became treasury provedor in 1582.
- Governors General — Governor General of Madeira in 1581 and again in 1583, and the subject of a 1924 study by Damião Peres.
- Cacongo (Viscount of) — Uncle of the viscount who ran a banking house in Funchal and brought him to Madeira.
- Historical dates — First governor-general of Madeira (1581) under Philippine rule.
- Public rejoicing — Funchal merchant said to have introduced New Year's Eve fireworks to Madeira around 1860–65.
- Judicial administration — High-court judge sent by the Spanish government to investigate events at Filipe II's proclamation.
- Leitão — Judge sent to Madeira under Philip I as war captain-major and governor-general.
- Leitão — Mainland merchant and banker who settled in Funchal in the mid-19th century, founding another Leitão branch.
- Barros Gomes (Henrique de) — Bank of Portugal agent in Madeira whose bankruptcy in 1878 prompted Barros Gomes's visit.
- Banks — Merchant who came to Madeira in 1853 and ran the Banco de Portugal agency until his bankruptcy in 1878.
- Herrera (Dom Agostinho) — Governor-general who resumed office after Herrera left.
- Pedro V (market) — Banker whose house lent the first loan for building the market.
- Câmara (João Gonçalves da) — Governor-general appointed by Philip II who took over the government of the whole archipelago in 1582.
- Alçadas (special tribunals) — Desembargador and first governor of Madeira under Philippine rule, sent with discretionary powers to judge opponents of Philip II.
2Chronology
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Under Philippine (Spanish) rule Madeira was governed by governors-general, beginning with João Leitão, who took over the administration of the whole archipelago; the captains-donatary were reduced to honorary status.
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A provision of Philip II appointed João Leitão treasury provedor and dispatched him to Madeira.
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João José Rodrigues Leitão settled in Funchal.
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New Year's Eve fireworks were introduced to Madeira, reportedly by João José Rodrigues Leitão.
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João José Rodrigues Leitão, agent of the Banco de Portugal, went bankrupt; director Henrique de Barros Gomes stayed in Funchal from 8 July to 2 September, and the agency passed to Tomás António Gomes on 15 July.
3Places mentioned
Abroad