António José de Almeida

António José de Almeida

President Almeida, 1919.
6th President of Portugal
In office
5 October 1919 – 5 October 1923
Prime Minister
Preceded by João do Canto e Castro
Succeeded by Manuel Teixeira Gomes
64th Prime Minister of Portugal
In office
16 March 1916 – 4 September 1916
President Bernardino Machado
Preceded by Afonso Costa
Succeeded by Afonso Costa (acting)
In office
5 October 1916 – 25 April 1917
President Bernardino Machado
Preceded by Afonso Costa (acting)
Succeeded by Afonso Costa
Personal details
Born (1866-07-27)27 July 1866
Vale da Vinha, Portugal
Died 31 October 1929(1929-10-31) (aged 63)
Lisbon, Portugal
Political party Portuguese Republican
Evolutionist
Republican Liberal
Spouse(s) Maria Joana Queiroga
Children Maria Teresa
Occupation Politician
Profession Physician
Signature

António José de Almeida, GCTE,[1] GCA, GCC, GCSE, (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ̃ˈtɔniu ʒuˈzɛ dɨ aɫˈmɐjdɐ]; 27 July 1866 in Penacova, São Pedro de Alva – 31 October 1929 in Lisbon), son of José António de Almeida and his wife Maria Rita das Neves, was a Portuguese political figure. He served as the sixth President of Portugal from 1919 until 1923.

Early career

He studied medicine at the University of Coimbra becoming a medical doctor and during his term as Minister for the Interior, he was the founder of both the University of Lisbon and the University of Porto in 1911. He was one of the most eloquent republican tribunes, and, after the Republic proclamation, as interior minister[2] he led the moderate wing of the Portuguese Republican Party, that opposed Afonso Costa. The moderates elected Manuel de Arriaga for first elected President, on 24 August 1911, defeating Afonso Costa's candidate, Bernardino Machado.

Official portrait of President António José de Almeida by Henrique Medina.

António José de Almeida founded his own party, the Evolutionist Party, that was in the opposition. On 12 June 1916 he became the 6th Minister for Finance and also the 96th Prime Minister of Portugal. Later, both the Evolutionist Party and the Republican Union, Manuel de Brito Camacho's party, joined to form the new Republican Liberal Party, in 1919, that went on to win the legislative elections.

Presidency

On 6 August 1919, António José de Almeida was elected the 6th President of the Republic, and was the only President of the First Republic, that completed the full four years mandate. He faced the greatest political instability of the regime and almost resigned. He was also remembered for his voyage to Brazil, in 1922, during the centennial of that country's independence from Portugal, where he was noted as a brilliant speaker.

Personal life

He married on 14 December 1910 to Maria Joana de Morais Perdigão Queiroga, daughter with her younger sisters Antónia and Catarina of Joaquim José Perdigão Queiroga (b. Évora) and first wife Maria Cândida de Morais and half-sister of Perdigão Queiroga. On 27 December 1911 they had an only daughter Maria Teresa Queiroga de Almeida, married to medical doctor Júlio Gomes da Cunha de Abreu.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 337th Grand Cross
  2. ↑ "With the proclamation of the Republic and the installment of the first provisional government, which was led by Teófilo Braga with António José de Almeida as Interior Minister and Afonso Costa as Minister of Justice, all of whom were freemasons" A Shortened History of Freemasonry in Portugal, Petrestones Review
Political offices
Preceded by
Afonso Costa		 Prime Minister of Portugal
1916
1916–1917 		Succeeded by
Afonso Costa
Preceded by
João do Canto e Castro		 President of Portugal
1919–1923 		Succeeded by
Manuel Teixeira Gomes
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