Bernardo Peres da Silva
Bernardo Peres da Silva | |
---|---|
Governor of Portuguese India | |
In office 14 January 1835 – 1 February 1835 | |
Monarch | Maria II of Portugal |
Preceded by | Manuel Francisco Zacarias de Portugal e Castro |
Succeeded by | Manuel Francisco Zacarias de Portugal e Castro |
Personal details | |
Born | Neura, Goa, Portuguese India, Portuguese Empire (now in India) | 15 October 1775
Died | 18 November 1844 Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal | (aged 69)
Resting place | Cemitério dos Prazeres |
Nationality | Portuguese |
Bernardo Peres da Silva (15 October 1775 – 18 November 1844) was a Portuguese politician and former medical practitioner who served as a governor of
Early life
Bernardo Peres da Silva was born in Neura Island in Goa to José Tomás de Vila Nova Peres and Mariana Veloso and was orphaned at a very young age. His uncle, Caetano Peres, was a priest at Rachol Seminary, and took him under his care. He completed secondary education at Rachol. He graduated from Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de Goa (School of Medical Surgery of Goa),[1][4] which was attached to the Royal Hospital at Panelim.[5]
Medical practitioner
After completing his education at the medical school, Peres was appointed as substitute professor in the medical school, having passed a competitive exam.[4] When his teacher fell ill, Peres took up the job of teaching.[6]
During his term at the hospital, Peres opposed moves by the Viceroy, the Count of Rio Pardo, to streamline treatment available to patients. This made him popular with the people,[4] but not with the viceroy. In 1820 he was dismissed from the Royal Hospital.[6]
Political career
The first insurrection
In 1821,
First term as representative
The Goans now had an opportunity to vote representatives to the Portuguese Parliament. Portuguese officials supported
On the way to Portugal, the three representatives were detained in Portuguese Mozambique. By the time they reached Lisbon, the Parliament had been dissolved, and the absolute monarchy restored. The new government appointed Peres as Intendente Geral da Agricultura da India, but did not give immediate effect to his appointment.[4] During his first term, Peres sided with the liberals in Portugal.[9]
Second term
In 1827, after a new liberal government was established, elections were held again. This time, Peres's opponent was the Governor of Goa. Peres won again, but on reaching Lisbon found that the parliament had been dissolved by King Dom
Appointment as Prefect
Peres's son was serving in the Portuguese military. In 1834, he was part of an expeditionary force that took over Porto. A new constitutional monarchy was established with Prince Pedro as the regent of his daughter, Queen Maria II. Peres immediately left for Lisbon, where he submitted a memorandum to Pedro IV, pleading for greater liberties for the people of Portuguese India. For his son's participation, and his loyalty to the House of Braganza during the usurpation by Dom Miguel, Dona Maria II[11] rewarded him by appointing Bernardo as Prefeito (Prefect) of Portuguese India on 7 May 1834.[12] The post of Prefect was a new designation for the post of Governor,[4][9] but it did not carry any military powers.[5]
Prefect of Goa
Bernardo da Silva arrived in Goa on 10 January 1835, and took charge of his post on 14 January. The
He intended to clean up the administration of Goa. Within a week of arrival, Peres's brought new reforms and made new appointments to the Finance and Justice departments. He took some steps to benefit locals which irked the whites and mestiços.
Deposition
The army in Goa at that time was dominated by whites and mestiços.[8] They eventually organised a coup in Goa and removed Peres from his post on 1 February. He had been in power for just seventeen days when he had been deposed.[12] Peres was arrested and exiled to Bombay. In his place, the previous Viceroy Manuel de Portugal e Castro was appointed Governor.[2]
Army revolt
On 10 February, disturbances broke out in Goa in his favour. The leader of the revolt that had deposed Peres, fearing arrest had resigned and handed control over to the Chief Counselor of the Prefecture. On 3 March,[12] a faction of the army, consisting of local soldiers loyal to him, revolted and demanded Peres' reinstatement as prefect. The military governor refused and ordered troops to move against the revolutionaries. His supporters took refuge at Fort Gaspar Dias (Terekhol Fort). After a pitched battle, most protesters were massacred.[1][2]
Expedition to liberate Goa
In Bombay, Peres plotted to liberate Goa from his opposers. At first, he sought help from the
Provisional government in Daman
Peres left for
In 1836, the Portuguese conducted elections in the European-controlled constituencies, keeping four constituencies away.[8] During Peres's absence, a provisional government headed by Rocha de Vasconcelos had been appointed. It was followed by the nomination of the Baron of Sabrosa as governor.[1]
Return to Goa
Peres went back to Goa and made peace with the new governor, accepting his authority. On 9 November 1839, he was re-elected as representative from Goa to the Parliament.[4] He returned to Portugal and continued to take part in the Parliament. He was appointed a member of the standing committee on colonies. He was re-elected to the parliament twice again[5] till his death in 1842. He argued on behalf of his land in the Portuguese Parliament, even though no minister responded to his demands.[7] He strongly defended the interests of Goa as well as other Portuguese colonies.[4][5]
In 1840, Peres delivered a speech in the parliament, defending his actions as Governor. He also asked for an investigation of his adversaries. He later published his speech entitled "Aos Representantes da Nação Portuguesa". He demanded that the military forces stationed in Goa be done away with.[5]
Death
For most of his life, Peres lived in penury, and died a pauper. He had to sell off his household furniture to meet medical expenses.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Monteiro, Francisco. "Bernardo Peres da Silva (1775–1844)" (in Portuguese). supergoa.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
- ^ a b c "History and Events of Goa – the Pearl of Orient". Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ "Know Your India: DIU Island". Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7022-619-2.
- ^ a b c d e f Borges, Charles J.; Oscar Guilherme Pereira; Hannes Stubbe. Goa and Portugal.
- ^ a b da Silva Gracias, Fatima. Health and hygiene and colonial Goa, 1510-196.
- ^ a b c Couto, Maria Aurora; Teotonio R de Souza (23 December 2005). "BOOK REVIEW: Maria Aurora Couto's Goa: A Daughter's Story". Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ a b c d De Souza, Teotonio R. Goa to me.
- ^ a b c d e f de Souza, Teotonio R. (1985). "For Goa and for Opium" (PDF). Retrieved 10 June 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ISBN 9788190426503. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ da Fonseca, José Nicolau (1878). An historical and archaeological sketch of the city of Goa.
- ^ a b c Danvers, Frederick Charles (1894). The Portuguese in India: A.D. 1481-1571.
- ^ Farooqui, Amar. Smuggling as subversion.
- ^ "Monuments". Archived from the original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.