Fontes Pereira de Melo
António Maria de Fontes Pereira de Melo GCTE KGF (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈfõtɨʃ pɨˈɾɐjɾɐ ðɨ ˈmɛlu]; Lisbon, 8 September 1819 – 22 January 1887) was a Portuguese statesman and engineer. He was a leading parliamentarian and political figure of his time. Among other posts held, he was six times minister of finance and minister of public works. From 1871 to 1886, he served three times as prime minister of Portugal, for a total of 11 years.
Fontes Pereira de Melo | |
|---|---|
Fontes Pereira de Melo in 1883 | |
| Prime Minister of Portugal | |
| In office 14 November 1881 – 16 February 1886 | |
| Monarch | Luís |
| Preceded by | António Rodrigues Sampaio |
| Succeeded by | José Luciano de Castro |
| In office 26 January 1878 – 29 May 1879 | |
| Monarch | Luís |
| Preceded by | Duke of Ávila |
| Succeeded by | Anselmo José Braamcamp |
| In office 13 September 1871 – 6 March 1877 | |
| Monarch | Luís |
| Preceded by | Duke of Ávila |
| Succeeded by | Duke of Ávila |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 September 1819 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Died | 22 January 1887 (aged 67) Lisbon, Portugal |
| Political party | Regenerator Party |
Fontes Pereira de Melo is mostly remembered for implementing dynamic industrial and public infrastructure policy, which became known as Fontismo (after his name). He also implemented educational reforms in accordance with the industrialization process he initiated (see Instituto Industrial de Lisboa and Escola Industrial do Porto).