Next November we will be celebrating the 194th anniversary of one of the most important events in Luso-Brazilian History: the voyage of the Prince Regent d. João, his court, and all those that found room in one of the 36 ships that sailed to Brazil. Perhaps a total of some 12.000 to 15.000 Portuguese. The wise decision of this great statesman, that was d. João, had positive results for Portugal, Brazil and England. Only France was to lament the event. Contrary to what happened to other countries conquered by Bonaparte, this decision would save the very essence of the Portuguese nation- her royal family and court – the royal family survived unscathed, maintained their kingdom and even prospered in their rich colony. The presence of the Portuguese monarchy in Brazil accelerated her development; once the kingdom of Portugal, Algarves and Brazil had been created, in 1815, independence would become inevitable. England, after several months of blockading the Tagus, would attack the French troops on Portuguese territory and, after defeating them, would continue until the final battle that took place at Waterloo. The opening of Brazilian ports by d. João, soon after his arrival at Salvador, would bring substantial benefits to that country. Due to the lack of documentation, details of this important voyage were, until recently, totally unknown. Now all this has changed, following the discovery in the Public Records Office, in London, of the log books of all those ships that blockaded the Tagus during November 1807 and those that escorted the Portuguese fleet on its journey. Also found where the reports of the captains of these ships. These log books, many times written during severe storms at sea, reflect the English language in use at that time and the unique colloquialism used by the British Navy. The task of unravelling their contents took five years and, even though slanted towards events that occurred to the British ships, they are practically the only detailed documentation that has survived. In 1995, on completing this research, I arranged to have it published. Copies can be found in libraries, universities, including the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and museums in Portugal, Brazil, United States, England and Spain; specially in those centres where Luso-Brasilian History is studied. In 1807, with the exception of England, France had managed to defeated all her enemies. France had been frustrated in her attempt to invade England as, […] Read More

  THE PORTUGUESE AND BRITISH NAVIES, 1750-1815 Kenneth H. Light, Associado Titular, Cadeira nº 1 – The period covered is one in which important events that had a significant and permanennt impact on history, ocurred; the Napoleonic war (1793-1815), the independence of America and, especially for Portugal and Brazil, the journey of the Royal Family in 1807/08. The two Navies had, during this period, an active and very often fundamental part to play. This paper discusses their principal activities, then describes and comments on the men, the ships and the men aboard their ships. It will not come as a surprise to learn that the responsibilities of the two Navies were very similar: 1. Actions deriving from war – the capture or destruction of enemy vessels, the transportation of troops, blockade of ports, interception and inspection of merchant vessels and amphibious operations. During the periods of conflict activities were so intense that during the 27 years of the Napoleonic war Britain lost 166 vessels, including 5 line-of-battle ships. In compensation she captured 1,201 vessels, including 159 line-of-battle ships and 330 frigates. Portugal, in turn, lost the frigate Minerva near Sri Lanka in 1809. 2. Escort merchant vessels, defending them from the enemy and from pirates. The North African coast as far as Tripoli was a haven of Barbary pirates. A Portuguese squadron, using Gibraltar as their temporary base, permanently patrolled this region. Every year the convoy of merchant vessels (80 or more in number), heading for India and Brazil, would be escorted as far as the Atlantic Isles; beyond it was highly unlikely to meet pirates, until reaching the Brazilian coast. At a previously agreed date, a squadron would be sent to cruise off Madeira and, after picking up the convoy, escort it to the safety of the Tagus. In the East, Britain was fully occupied defending vessels belonging to the East India Company. The region was so dangerous that, in addition to an escort, the vessels had to be armed. 3. Transport dignitaries to their posts and deportees to their place of banishment. The unique example, during this period, was the journey of the Royal Family of Portugal to Brazil. 4. Transport valuables for the Crown. The Portuguese line-of-battle ships that escorted the convoy of merchant vessels, when necessary, continnued their journey all the way to Brazil. In 1769, for example, the line-of-battle ship Na. Sa. dos Prazeres sailed […] Read More

  AS MARINHAS DE GUERRA PORTUGUESA E INGLESA – PERÍODO 1750-1815 Kenneth Henry Lionel Light, Associado Titular, Cadeira n° 1 – Patrono Albino José de Siqueira Este ensaio abrange um período que concentrou importantes eventos, que tiveram uma influência significativa e permanente na História; a guerra napoleônica (1793-1815), a independência da América e, o que nos afetou profundamente, a jornada da Família Real ao Brasil (1807/08). As duas Marinhas tiveram uma participação ativa neste período e, muitas vezes, fundamental. O objetivo deste ensaio é conhecer-as melhor; assim, após uma breve introdução sobre as suas principais atividades, iremos descrever e comentar sobre os homens, os navios e os homens a bordo dos seus navios. Não será surpresa constatamos que as responsabilidades das duas Marinhas eram muito semelhantes: Ações ligadas a guerra – capturar ou destruir navios inimigos, transportar tropas, bloquear portos, interceptar e inspeçionar navios mercantes e operações anfíbias. Durante os períodos de conflito as atividades eram tão intensas que, nos 27 anos que durou a guerra napoleônica, a Inglaterra perdeu 166 navios incluíndo 5 naus-de-linha. Em compensação capturou 1201 navios inimigos, incluindo 159 naus-de-linha e 330 fragatas. Portugal perdeu a fragata Minerva perto de Sri Lanka em 1809. Escoltar navios mercantes, defendendo os de ação inimiga e de piratas. A costa da Africa do Norte, até Tripoli, era um escondedouro de piratas berberes. Uma esquadra portuguesa, com base em Gibraltar, permanentemente patrulhava esta região. Anualmente o comboio de navios mercantes (80 ou mais navios) com destino à Índia e ao Brasil, era protegido até alcançar as ilhas do Atlântico; em data previamente combinada, uma esquadra era despachada para cruzar os mares perto da Madeira e acompanhar-o até o Tejo. No Oriente a Inglaterra se ocupava em defender os navios da Cia das Indias (East India Company). Os mares por onde velejavam eram tão perigosos que além da escolta os navios mercantes tiveram que ser armados. Transportar dignatários a seus postos e deportados para o seu lugar de desterro. O exemplo singular neste período foi a jornada da Família Real portuguesa. Transportar valores para a coroa. Os navios de guerra que escoltavam o comboio de navios mercantes, quando era preciso, continuavam a viagem até o Brasil. Em 1769, por exemplo, a nau-de-linha Na. Sa. dos Prazeres saiu do Tejo em 25 de abril escoltando dois navios indo para a Índia e varios mercantes com destino a diferentes portos do Brasil. Em julho […] Read More