Maria Adelaide Coelho da Cunha

Maria Adelaide Coelho da Cunha
Born(1869-10-13)13 October 1869
Died23 November 1954(1954-11-23) (aged 85)
Known forWrongful involuntary commitment

Maria Adelaide Coelho da Cunha (13 October 1869 – 23 November 1954) was a Portuguese socialite, and the daughter and heiress of Eduardo Coelho, founder of the major daily newspaper Diário de Notícias. She married Alfredo da Cunha, who succeeded Coelho in charge of the newspaper.

She became notorious, at age 48, for her scandalous elopement with the family chauffeur, Manuel Claro, 20 years her junior, and her subsequent wrongful psychiatric involuntary commitment and placement under judicial conservatorship.