Almeida Garrett


The Viscount of Almeida Garrett

A lithograph of Garrett, by Pedro Augusto Guglielmi
A lithograph of Garrett, by Pedro Augusto Guglielmi
BornJoão Baptista da Silva Leitão de Almeida Garrett
(1799-02-04)4 February 1799
Porto, Kingdom of Portugal
Died9 December 1854(1854-12-09) (aged 55)
Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
OccupationPoet, playwright, novelist, politician, journalist
NationalityPortuguese
Literary movementRomanticism
Notable worksViagens na Minha Terra, Camões, Frei Luís de Sousa
Signature
Minister and Secretary of State
of Foreign Affairs
In office
4 March 1852 – 17 August 1852
Prime MinisterThe Duke of Saldanha
Preceded byAntónio Jervis de Atouguia
Succeeded byAntónio Jervis de Atouguia
Chief Chronicler of the Kingdom of Portugal
In office
20 December 1838 – 16 July 1841
Prime MinisterThe Viscount of Sá da Bandeira
Preceded byJoão Bernardo da Rocha Loureiro
Succeeded byThe Viscount of Santarém
(as Guardian of the Royal Archives)
Inspector-General of the National Theatres and Shows
In office
22 November 1836 – 16 July 1841
Prime MinisterThe Viscount of Sá da Bandeira
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJoaquim Larcher

João Baptista da Silva Leitão de Almeida Garrett, 1st Viscount of Almeida Garrett (Portuguese pronunciation: [alˈmɐjðɐ ɣɐˈʁɛtɨ]; 4 February 1799 – 9 December 1854) was a Portuguese poet, orator, playwright, novelist, journalist, politician, and a peer of the realm. A major promoter of theater in Portugal he is considered the greatest figure of Portuguese Romanticism and a true revolutionary and humanist. He proposed the construction of the D. Maria II National Theatre and the creation of the Conservatory of Dramatic Art.