Statesman, Prime Minister of Portugal. He served on two separate occasions. First, from 9 February 1842 to 20 May 1846 and second from 18 June 1849 to 26 April 1851. Prior to becoming prime minister he a lawyer in Coimbra and was later appointed as a judge. He also served as was a deputy, state advisor, minister of justice and ecclesiastical affairs and minister of the kingdom. He was made Count of Tomar and later elevated to Marquis of Tomar by Queen D. Maria II. Elected to the legislature several times, he developed a position of great political influence and assured of the support of the Queen. In 1842 he was the chief architect of a coup. Since the queen was complicit in the coup, he was installed as prime minister. He is best remembered for his deliberate policy of stability and national development. He gave Portugal the first legislative government since the establishment of constitutionalism. This was followed by a resounding victory in the general elections held on 5 and 19 June which gave him absolute control over Parliament. A few of his reforms included was the administrative centralization and approving the Administrative Code of 1842. The reform of the National Guards followed, one of the factors of previous instability, the resumption of relations with the Holy See and the control of the external debt and government deficit. However, his accumulation of enormous personal wealth, increase in public expenditures and accusations of nepotism created fears of a popular uprising. In 1846 the queen was forced to dismiss him and he went into exile to Madrid. Due to internal conflicts in Portugal, he was appointed plenipotentiary minister and an extraordinary envoy in Madrid and returned to power in Portugal, thanks to the queen, in 1849. His return was not popular and due to resistance from other influential politicians, he resigned in April 1851. He ended his political career and withdrew from public life.