Rodrigo Pinto Guedes, the 1st Baron of Rio da Prata (27 July 1762 – 13 June 1845) was a Portuguese-born Brazilian naval officer who served in the admiralties of the Kingdom of Portugal, its successor the

United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves The United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was a pluricontinental monarchy formed by the elevation of the Portuguese colony named State of Brazil to the status of a kingdom and by the simultaneous union of that Kingdom of Brazil ...

, and finally the

Empire of Brazil The Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil and (until 1828) Uruguay. Its government was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the rule of Emperors Dom ...

, for which he acted as commander of all naval operations during the

Cisplatine War The Cisplatine War (), also known as the Argentine-Brazilian War () or, in Argentine and Uruguayan historiography, as the Brazil War (''Guerra del Brasil''), the War against the Empire of Brazil (''Guerra contra el Imperio del Brasil'') or t ...

Biography

Guedes was born on July 27, 1762, in

Aguiar da Beira, Gradiz Aguiar da Beira () is a municipality in Guarda District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 5,473, in an area of . The present Mayor is Virgílio da Cunha, elected by an independent group of citizens. The municipal holiday is February 10. Hi ...

, Portugal to Rodrigo Pinto Guedes and Maria da Silveira Pereira. His parents intended him to take on a religious life, and sent him to a monastery; however, he ran away and decided to embark on a maritime career. In September 1781, he was named a Cadet of the Portuguese Navy, and thus began what would prove to be a successful career. He married Constanza Smissaert Pinto Caldas, daughter of José Pereira Caldas and Constanza Smissaert.

Bibliography

* "''A War Betwixt Englishmen Brazil Against Argentina on the River Plate 1825-1830''", Brian Vale, I. B. Tauris. 1762 births 1845 deaths Brazilian admirals People of the Cisplatine War Brazilian nobility {{Brazil-noble-stub