Manuel António Martins (1772 in Braga-1845) was a Portuguese businessman and colonial governor of
Cape Verde and
Portuguese Guinea
Portuguese Guinea ( pt, Guiné), called the Overseas Province of Guinea from 1951 until 1972 and then State of Guinea from 1972 until 1974, was a West African colony of Portugal from 1588 until 10 September 1974, when it gained independence as Gu ...
from 1834 to 1835.
Martins was said to be the richest man in the country and nicknamed the Napoleon of the Cape Verde Islands.
He arrived in Cape Verde in 1792. He started the exploitation of the salt ponds of
Pedra de Lume
Pedra de Lume is a village in the northeastern part of the island of Sal, Cape Verde. The village is situated on the east coast, about 5 km east of the island capital Espargos. It has a small port and a lighthouse, Farol de Pedra de Lume.
Sa ...
on the island of
Sal in 1796.
[Salines de Pedra de Lume]
UNESCO World Heritage tentative list
In May 1819, Martins co-established a fishing company with the Governor of Cape Verde,
António Pusich. Martins's partnership with Pusich soured after Pusich accused Martin of trying to sell
São Vicente and
Sal to the British.
After the accusation, Martins instigated a riot in
Praia in May 1821 that led to the overthrow of Pusich.
In 1819, Martins was appointed by
Samuel Hodges, Jr. as an honorary vice-consul for the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
on the island of
Boa Vista.
He founded the town of
Santa Maria on Sal in 1830.
In December 1833, Martins was appointed
colonial governor of Cape Verde and Guinea,
assuming office on 14 February 1834.
[ His tenure lasted until March 1835.][ In 1834 he established the municipality of Santa Catarina with its seat in ]Picos
Picos is a Municipalities of Brazil, municipality in the states of Brazil, state of Piauí in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of Brazil. Picos is the state's third-largest city, located in the south-central region of Piauí and is ...
, replacing the old municipality of Ribeira Grande.[Evolução histórica do Concelho de Santa Catarina (1834 – 1912)]
Ana Zenaida Gomes, 2005, p. 16
See also
*List of colonial governors of Cape Verde
The islands of Cape Verde were uninhabited when discovered and claimed by Portugal in 1456. A Portuguese colony was established in 1462. The islands were united as a single crown colony in 1587. In 1951, the islands became an overseas provin ...
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martins Manuel Antonio
1772 births
1845 deaths
Portuguese diplomats
Colonial heads of Cape Verde
Portuguese colonial governors and administrators
Portuguese people of Italian descent