Martinho de Melo e Castro, 1.º visconde da Lourinhã

Martinho de Melo e Castro (1716 - 1795), often referred to only as Martinho de Melo, was a Portuguese diplomat and politician who held important positions in the reigns of D. José I and D. Maria I and who became famous as a reformer of the Portuguese colonial system when he exercised the functions of Secretary of State for the Navy and Overseas between 1770 and 1795.[1] He was prime minister of Queen D. Maria I.

Life
He was the son of Francisco de Melo e Castro and Maria Joaquina Xavier da Silva, and father of Manoel Bernardo de Melo Castro.

His son traveled to Brazil between 1754 and 1756 in the delegation of Mendonça Furtado, who had been sent by Marquês de Pombal to be the vice-king of Grão-Pará and Maranhão.

Martinho de Melo e Castro was part of the delegation and was sent to unify the "village" in the current state of Amapá. In this mission, he created the Vila de São José de Macapá, being its first administrator, then appointed governor. In the village, now the city of Macapá, he was the builder of the Igreja Matriz.

Notável estadista e diplomata. Destinado à vida eclesiástica, estudou na Universidade de Coimbra onde obteve o bacharelato em Filosofia e Direito Pontifício. Embaixador de D. José I aos Estados Gerais, Londres e Paris. Principal impulsionador do processo contra o marquês de Pombal depois da morte do rei, foi ministro da rainha D. Maria I e grande responsável pela reorganização geral de todos as áreas relacionadas com a Marinha. Diplomata; Ministro; Secretários de Estado dos Negócios Estrangeiros e da Guerra (6) - 9.12.1785.

18.09 . 1762 São concedidos plenos poderes a Martinho de Melo e Castro para negociar o futuro tratado com a Espanha. 04.01 . 1770 O embaixador de Portugal em Londres, Martinho de Melo e Castro , assume a pasta da Secretaria de Estado da Marinha e Domínios Ultramarinos. 13.11 . 1774 Audiência de despedida do embaixador extraordinário de Marrocos pelo secretário de Estado, Martinho de Melo e Castro . É ratificado um tratado de paz com aquele reino. 09.12 . 1785 Martinho de Melo e Castro assume interinamente a Secretaria de Estado dos Negócios Estrangeiros.

Martinho de Melo e Castro (1716 - 1795), often referred to only as Martinho de Melo, was a Portuguese diplomat and politician who held important positions in the reigns of D. José I and D. Maria I and who became famous as a reformer of the Portuguese colonial system when he exercised the functions of Secretary of State for the Navy and Overseas between 1770 and 1795.[1] He was prime minister of Queen D. Maria I.

Life
He was the son of Francisco de Melo e Castro and Maria Joaquina Xavier da Silva, and father of Manoel Bernardo de Melo Castro.

His son traveled to Brazil between 1754 and 1756 in the delegation of Mendonça Furtado, who had been sent by Marquês de Pombal to be the vice-king of Grão-Pará and Maranhão.

Martinho de Melo e Castro was part of the delegation and was sent to unify the "village" in the current state of Amapá. In this mission, he created the Vila de São José de Macapá, being its first administrator, then appointed governor. In the village, now the city of Macapá, he was the builder of the Igreja Matriz.

Destacado coronel militar. Governador e capitão-general do Estado do Grão-Pará e Maranhão. Governador das armas do Alentejo.