Saldanha, Duke of

Saldanha, Duke of 

(João Carlos de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun). Born Nov. 17, 1791, in Arinhaga; died Nov. 21, 1876, in London. Portuguese statesman. Marshal (from 1834).

In 1805, Saldanha entered military service. In 1825 he became minister of foreign affairs and in 1826–27 he served as minister of war. After an unsuccessful attempt to incite an uprising against Miguel Braganza, Saldanha went into exile from 1828 to 1833. Upon his return to Portugal, he took part in military operations against the Miguelists. In 1835, Saldanha became head of the government. After the September Revolution of 1836 he lived abroad until 1846; he was again head of the government from 1846 to 1849, from 1851 to 1856, and in 1870. He suppressed a popular movement during the Maria da Fonte War. In 1851, Saldanha founded the moderate-liberal Regener-ação (Regeneration) Party. He carried out a number of reforms, such as the introduction of direct elections to the chamber of deputies and the reduction of the electoral qualifications.