Maria Cavaco Silva
Maria Cavaco Silva | |
---|---|
First Lady of Portugal | |
In role 9 March 2006 – 9 March 2016 | |
President | Aníbal Cavaco Silva |
Preceded by | Maria José Ritta |
Succeeded by | Vacant |
Personal details | |
Born | São Bartolomeu de Messines, Silves, Algarve, Portugal | 19 March 1938
Spouse |
University of Lisbon |
Signature | |
Maria Alves da Silva Cavaco Silva
A Professor of Portuguese Language and Culture, she has been dedicating her attention to education and culture issues, but also to social solidarity and cohesion.
Biography
Maria Cavaco Silva was born Maria Alves da Silva, to Francisco dos Santos Silva and Adelina de Jesus Pincho, on 19 March 1938, in São Bartolomeu de Messines, Silves (Algarve). Her mother died in her youth, and she ended up being raised by her uncle and aunt in Lisbon.[1]
She
It was while holidaying in the
In 1977, Maria became a lecturer of
On 22 January 2006, her husband was elected President of Portugal, with 50,6% of the votes. She became the First Lady of Portugal, succeeding Maria José Ritta, Jorge Sampaio's wife, in March of that year. Her activity agenda included the challenges that families and the youth face in today's world, or the new demands in social assistance. As it had already happened in the 1980s and the 1990s, when her husband was prime minister, attending official acts and institutional events, as well as contacting with organisations, associations and several entities of the civil society, is a large part of her daily routine.[2] The couple currently has two children and five grandchildren.
Honours
National
- Portugal:
- Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (9 March 2017)
Foreign
Source: [3]
- Austria: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (31 August 2009)
- Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (22 April 2008)
- Chile: Grand Cross of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins (16 November 2010)
- Colombia: Grand Cross of the Order of Boyacá (14 November 2012)
- Germany: Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (26 May 2009)
- Holy See: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (30 August 2010)
- Jordan:
- Grand Cordon with Brilliants (Special Class) of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (10 December 2009)
- Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (28 May 2009)
- Lithuania: Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great (25 July 2007)
- Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (9 September 2010)
- Malta: Honorary Member of the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika (11 December 2008)
- Mexico: Sash of Special Category of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (2 June 2014)
- Norway: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (5 November 2008)
- Panama: Grand Cross of the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero (30 July 2013)
- Qatar: Collar of the Order of Merit (10 December 2009)
- Poland:
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (6 July 2012)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1 October 2008)
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Grand Cross of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (23 November 2010)
- Spain: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (24 September 2006)
- Sweden: Member Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (9 May 2008)
References
- ^ a b ""Primeira Dama – Maria Cavaco Silva" – Presidency of the Republic Museum". Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "Biografia Dr.ª Maria Cavaco Silva" – Official page of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic Archived 29 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "list of Maria's honours". ordens.presidencia.pt. Retrieved 3 April 2017.