A descendant of Azorean noble family; was educated as lawyer in the University of Coimbra (1860-1865); taught history and practiced law at Lisbon (from 1866); made a reputation as a lawyer and advocate, being counsel for the defense in many important trials, including that of António José de Almeida (1890); affiliated himself with the Portuguese Republican Party (Partido Republicano Português, PRP); member of the PRP Board; published anti-monarchial article against King Carlos I; elected deputy of the Cortes, representing the district of Madeira (1882-1892); appointed prosecutor general of the Republic (1910-1911); elected first Constitutional President of the Republic (24 Aug 1911 - 29 May 1915); pursued non-interventionist policies; was unable to prevent disintegration of the republican movement; did not favor Portugal's participation in the First World War on the side of the Allies; under the pressure of the military, appointed pro-German General Joaquim Pereira Pimenta de Castro as President of the Ministry (28 Jan 1915 - 14 May 1915), who assumed dictatorial powers; following the coup (14 May 1915), which succeeded in toppling the regime of General Pimenta de Castro, tendered a formal petition renouncing the presidency to the Government (27 May 1915), which passed it to the Senado and to the Câmara dos Deputados (Chamber of Deputies); a joint session of the Congress of the Republic (29 May 1915) accepted the resignation. Biography source: [4] [5] |
