Manuel Teixeira Gomes

Attended the Colégio de São Luís Gonzaga, Portimão, and the Coimbra seminary; at the age of 15 enrolled at the University of Coimbra to study medicine; abandoned studies in two years and moved to Lisbon, where he established closed ties with local intellectual circles; after completing military service, installed himself in Porto (1881), where published a magazine; was engaged in fruit trade, holding a position in the family business; earned popularity by publishing a number of books written in the naturalist style; as a convinced republican, he collaborated with the daily A Lucta published by Brito Camacho; served as envoy to the United Kingdom (1911-1918); managed to ingratiate himself thoroughly with the British government and especially with King George V; acted as principal negotiator for all matters relating to Portugal and World War I; returned to Portugal in January 1918 and was put under house arrest during the dictatorship of Sidónio Pais; returned to diplomacy after the fall of Sidonist regime; became envoy to Spain (1919) and then again to the United Kingdom (1919-1923); a member of the Portuguese Delegation at the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920); unsuccessful candidate of the Democratic Party (Partido Democrático) at the presidential elections of 6 Aug 1919 won by António José de Almeida; delegate to the League of Nations, serving as Vice-President of the General Assembly (6 Sep 1922 - 30 Sep 1922); was elected in-absentia President of the Republic (6 Aug 1923), arriving at the port of Lisbon on 3 Oct 1923; made unsuccessful attempts to combat terrorism; suppressed at least four major revolts (1924-1925) organized by radicals and the military; being constantly attacked by the nationalists and unable to manage political crises, he resigned the office (11 Dec 1925) on the pretext of poor health; went into voluntary exile (17 Dec 1925) and never returned to Portugal. Biography source: [4][5]