Manoel Beckman

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Manoel Beckman, also known as Bequimao, was a 17th century Jewish trader and farmer in São Luís, Maranhão in the North East of Brazil. He was son of a German father and a Portuguese mother [1]. In 1684, together with his brother Thomas, he started a rebellion against the Portuguese colonial authorities aiming at independence from Portugal. The rebellion was eventually put down by Portuguese troops and Beckman was executed in November of 1686. He is considered one of the earliest freedom fighters of Brazil, and is honoured as such particularly in the state of Maranhão.