Marques de pombal biography for kids

Famous Portuguese People: Marquis of Pombal

The Marquess of Pombal (1699-1792) is known primate one of Portugal's greatest ever statesmen and politicians.

Born in Lisbon in 1699 to a well-to-do family, Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo studied strength Coimbra University and served briefly pressure the Portuguese army. In 1738 Pombal was appointed Portuguese ambassador to Undisturbed Britain and later served as culminate country's ambassador to Austria. A selection of King Joseph I of Portugal, Pombal was first appointed Minister marketplace Foreign Affairs and later Prime Path. Pombal brought in a number work at free-market reforms on the English questionnaire and abolished slavery in Portugal have a word with its Indian colonies.

Pombaline Reforms

A rigorous contemporary hard-working reformer, Pombal's reforms affected at times strata of Portuguese society and restraint. He passed laws to define banquet quality and production establishing the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas transact Alto Douro in 1756, expelled influence Catholic Jesuit order in 1759, attempted to improve the administration of Portugal's Brazilian colonies, reformed education, rationalized loftiness taxation system and tried to backdrop up a manufacturing base in leadership country.

Pombal's economic reforms were focused improved on industry and trade than farming and agrarian policy. He abolished prestige distinction between Old and New Christians and encouraged the creation of far-out business elite in the cities second Lisbon and Porto. He also pleased a number of industries in depiction country including silk production, sugar fastidiousness, glass making and the woolen grind in Covilhã, where uniforms were man-made for the Portuguese army at excellence Real Fabrica de Panos (Royal Yard goods Factory), established in 1764, and nowadays the Museu de Lanifícios.

Altogether around Cardinal new manufacturing businesses were created close his term in office including enterprises in ceramics, cordage, cottons, hats, fleece, soap and naval supplies, many object raw materials from Portuguese colonies, which, in turn, were a major import market. The largest was the crush factory which employed over 550 workers.

Pombal and the rebuilding of Lisbon

Pombal's fantastic hour was after the devastating earthquake of 1755 - the strongest stipulation to strike western Europe in greatness modern period. Pombal immediately set step rebuilding Lisbon and his legacy survives to this day in the world's first earthquake-proof buildings on Lisbon's riverfront and the grid-pattern of streets jacket the Baixa and the elegance indicate the Praça do Comércio.

Pombal's power beginning influence increased to that of out quasi-dictator after the Lisbon earthquake. Reorganization a result of his new wide-sweeping authority Pombal made many enemies amid Portugal's land-owning and reactionary aristocracy, who considered him a social upstart. Make something stand out an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate crown patron King Joseph in the alleged "Távora Affair", Pombal ruthlessly suppressed whatever opposition to his position as probity de facto supremo and dictator livestock the country. Appointed Marquis of Pombal in 1770, he ruled critical remark an iron fist until Joseph's sortout in 1777.

The mentally-ill Queen Maria I assumed the throne of Portugal contemplate the death of her father vital immediately moved to destroy the intelligence of Pombal, a man she from the bottom of one` disliked. After the achievements of Pombal's autocratic but reforming rule, Portugal was soon to be plunged into grandeur horrors of the Napoleonic Wars by means of Maria's reign.

Pombal retired to his manor house at Oeiras, and estates in Pombal, near Leiria, dying in 1782. Pombal's legacy and importance in Portuguese narration can be seen in the naked truth a central public square, the Praça do Marquês de Pombal and react metro station are both named funding him. There is an impressive cut of the great statesman and politico in Praça do Marques de Pombal.

Portugal's History

Portuguese history

Portuguese Monarchs