Francisco Maria da Cunha

Francisco Maria da Cunha GCA • ComTE • ComC (Angra do Heroísmo, December 22, 1832 - Lisbon, 13 January 1909) was a military, political and Portuguese colonial administrator. Among other prominent roles, he was Governor of Portuguese India and Governor-general of Portuguese Mozambique, deputy and Peer of the realm.

Francisco Maria da Cunha
General of the Division of Francisco Maria da Cunha.
Governor-general of Mozambique
In office 1877–1880
Preceded by	José Guedes de Carvalho e Meneses
Succeeded by	Augusto César Rodrigues Sarmento
Governor of Portuguese India
In office 1891–1891
Preceded by	Vasco Guedes de Carvalho e Meneses
Succeeded by	João Manuel Correia Taborda
Personal details
Born	22 December 1832 Angra do Heroísmo, Velas, Azores, Portugal
Died	13 January 1909 Lisbon, Portugal
Nationality	Portuguese

Biography

He was born at Fortress of São João Baptista (Angra do Heroísmo), son of Maria Cândida da Franca e Horta and Francisco Jacques da Cunha, one of the Bravos do Mindelo (winners of the Portuguese liberal wars to members of the liberal forces that participated in the Landing at Mindelo) and then major general. He attended the military school between 1842 and 1848,[1] and after this, at 16 years old, joined the Portuguese Army as a volunteer. After attending the Polytechnic School of Lisbon and the Army School (Escola do Exército), on October 11, 1865 he was promoted to lieutenant and began his career as an officer of Infantry.

As an Army officer, he served in the Portuguese colonies of Africa and Oceania. In 1869 he was appointed commander of the Macau Battalion.[2] In 1877 he was appointed Governor-General of Mozambique, a post he held until 1880.[3] During his administration, he dealt effectively with a revolt in Zambezia and took possession of Inhaca, drawing praise from the Portuguese and British governments. In 1891, he was appointed Governor General of Portuguese India,[4] a position he held until 1892.

He was directory of the Military College from 1882 to 1890[2] or from 1883 to 1891. Between 1888 and 1890 was president of the Geographical Society of Lisbon.[2] On January 10, 1895 he reached the rank of general of the division. In 1899, he was appointed commander of the Superior Council of the Army Discipline.[5]

He was also Minister of War (1897) and 1st Secretary of the Chairman of José Luciano de Castro (1898);[6] commander of the Army School (now Military Academy, 1895/96 and 1898/1900);[7] Chief of the Military House, Council aide and member of Conselho de Sua Majestade Fidelíssima of King D. Carlos; President of the Portuguese Red Cross (1905/1909),[8] the Montepio Geral and the Lisbon Geographical Society.

He was awarded the degree of Grand Cross of the Order of Aviz and the Commander of the Order of the Tower and Sword and the Order of Christ (Portugal).

References

1. Meninos da Luz – Quem é Quem II. Lisbon: Associação dos Antigos Alunos do Colégio Militar. 2008.
2. Página no site da Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa
3. Lista de governadores de Moçambique
4. Lista de governadores da Índia Portuguesa
5. Portal do Exército Português
6. http://hemerotecadigital.cm-lisboa.pt/FichasHistoricas/ACorja.pdf
7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2016-09-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2016-09-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Preceded by José Guedes de Carvalho e Meneses	Governor-general of Mozambique 1877-80	Succeeded by Augusto César Rodrigues Sarmento
Preceded by Col. Joaquim António Dias	Director of the Military College 1882/83-1890/91	Succeeded by Ten.-Col. Emílio Henrique Xavier Nogueira
Preceded by Vasco Guedes de Carvalho e Meneses	Governor of Portuguese India 1891	Succeeded by João Manuel Correia Taborda