Saldanha Oliviera e Daun

Saldanha Oliviera e Daun, JOÃO CARLOS, DUKE OF, Portuguese statesman and marshal, was born on 17th November 1790, a grandson of the 'Great Marquis,' Pombal, and great-grandson of the Austrian Marshal Daun. He was educated at Lisbon and entered the army. When the French invaded Portugal he took the patriotic side, and fought with distinction at Busaco, San Sebastian, Nive, &c. From 1817 to 1822 he was in South America, and took a leading part in the struggle between Brazil and Montevideo, after the capture of which last town he was nominated viceroy of the province. When, however, Brazil declared herself independent of Portugal, Saldanha returned to Lisbon, and in 1825 was appointed governor of Oporto. A moderate constitutionalist, he took the part of Dom Pedro against Dom Miguel (see PORTUGAL), helping to defend Oporto in 1833, beating off repeated attacks upon Lisbon (for which he was created marshal), gaining the victories of Pernes and Almoster, taking Leiria and Santarem, and finally forcing Miguel to sign the convention of Evora Monte (26th May 1834) and leave Portugal. During 1836-46 the extreme democratic party were in power and Saldanha lived partly in exile, partly in retirement, partly employed on diplomatic and other public business abroad. Meanwhile Portugal was in a most unsettled and disorderly state. Saldanha returned home in 1846; and from that time down to 1856 was alternately at the head of the government (1847-49, 1851-56), being supported chiefly by England, and in armed opposition to his political opponents. During the reign of Pedro II. he held no great office of state, and under King Louis was kept abroad as ambassador at Rome and London, except that he was prime-minister for some months in 1870. He died in London, 28th November 1876. He had been created a duke in 1846. The highly eulogistic Memoirs, by Count da Carnota (Lond. 1880), must be read with caution.