| Activity | Educated at Rome, returned to Portugal, 1777. One of the founders of Academia Real das Ciências de Lisboa, 1779. An unknown dispute with the Inquisition led to him fleeing Portugal for England in 1795 and came under the protection of Sir Joseph Banks. Appointed secretary to the Portugeuse embassy in London, forced to flee to Paris in 1802 after a quarrel with the ambassador. Travelled to America in 1813, being appointed Portuguese minister-plenipotentiary at Washington D.C. in 1816. Recalled to Portugal in 1820 and appointed a member of the financial council. |