José Manuel da Câmara
governor and captain-general of Madeira
Governor and captain-general of Madeira (1800–1803), whose rule saw the British occupation and the 1803 flood. He promoted agricultural improvements such as long-wool sheep and ordered the demolition of the São Sebastião chapel for a market, but quarrelled with Bishop Vilares, expelled him from Funchal in 1803 and was dismissed after the ensuing inquiry.
1Mentioned in
- Geology — Captain-general of Madeira in whose time a report on ochres and pozzolana was written.
- Governors General — Governor and captain-general of Madeira who had Henrique Correia imprisoned in 1803.
- Honorific forms of address — Governor and captain-general reprimanded for addressing the Funchal council as senhoria.
- Chapel of Christ Carrying the Cross — Governor of Madeira said to have had a Passion oratory built in the Beco de Jacinto Acciaioly.
- Rodrigues de Vilares (Dom Luís) — Governor who expelled the bishop from Funchal in 1803 and was dismissed after the inquiry.
- Livestock — Governor and captain-general of Madeira who contracted with Fitzgerald for a model farm and was congratulated in 1802 on introducing long-wool sheep.
- Banks — Governor and captain-general of Madeira to whom the government recommended a credit fund in 1800.
- Seminary — Governor and captain-general whose failure to vacate the Jesuit College caused a conflict with the bishop.
- Freire (Ascenso de Sequeira) — Predecessor as governor and captain-general whose quarrels with the bishop led to an official inquiry.
- Market and Chapel of St Sebastian — Governor and captain-general of Madeira who secretly ordered the demolition of the São Sebastião chapel in January 1803 to build a market.
- Corpus Christi procession — Governor who in 1801–02 claimed a place behind the canopy and a canopy pole, prompting council protests.
- Palheiro do Ferreiro (quinta) — Governor of Madeira who visited the Palheiro estate on 5 January 1801.
- Guiomar (Belvedere of Dona) — Governor of Madeira who reported on sending D. Guiomar's inherited jewels, silver and tapestries to the Royal Treasury.
- Governors and captains-general — Governor and captain-general of Madeira from 1800.
- Occupation of Madeira by British troops — Governor and captain-general of Madeira who submitted to the British landing of 1801 to avoid bombardment.
- St John the Evangelist (college and church) — Governor and captain-general who refused to remove troops from the college, causing a conflict with the bishop in 1803.
- Cotton plant — Captain-general of Madeira who received the 1802 official letter praising the progress of cotton cultivation.
- Santo António da Serra (parish) — Governor and captain-general who deported Bishop Vilares to Santo da Serra.
- Flash floods — Governor and captain-general of Madeira in 1803 who organised relief after the great flood.
2Chronology
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D. José Manuel da Câmara was appointed governor and captain-general of Madeira.
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D. José Manuel da Câmara took office as governor of Madeira.
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Governor D. José Manuel da Câmara visited the Palheiro property and attended the laying of the doorsteps.
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A British squadron arrived at Funchal, beginning the first British occupation of Madeira; troops under Clinton were quartered in the Jesuit college, the Penha de França fort and the theatre, forcing the seminary back to the Mosteiro Novo.
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Minister Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho informed the captain-general of Madeira of the Prince Regent's satisfaction with the progress of cotton growing on the island.
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On the governor's orders the São Sebastião chapel in Funchal was emptied, its images carried to São Tiago, and razed overnight.
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A serious conflict between Governor José Manuel da Câmara and Bishop D. Luís Rodrigues de Vilares over the Jesuit college led the governor to force the bishop out of Funchal to Santo da Serra.
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Henrique Correia was imprisoned on the Ilhéu fortress for failing to dismount before Governor José Manuel da Câmara.
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The great flood of 9 October 1803, considered Madeira's greatest calamity, devastated Funchal and other parts of the island, killing about 600 people and destroying the Calhau church, stream walls, bridges and chapels in Machico, Santa Cruz and elsewhere. It prompted Oudinot's mission and the city's spread outwards.
3Places mentioned
Abroad