Luís Inácio de Melo Wood (Portugal, 1775 - id., C. 1835) was a Portuguese military officer. He became famous for leading in the office of Governor of Arms, the Portuguese troops based in Salvador, in fighting the War of Independence of Brazil in that province until his capitulation in 2 July in 1823, when they retreated to Portugal.
In the context that led to the Brazil's Independence, the conflicts in Bahia had a fundamental role because of the importance of the Portuguese community in the region. Since the Liberal Revolution of Porto (1820) liberal ideas reached Salvador, echoing a growing way (see Independence of Bahia).
Lieutenant Colonel Wood Melo was appointed by the Portuguese government in February 1822 to hold the post of commander of the weapons in the province of Bahia. This position was created by Courts decree in September 1821 as a way to reestablish military control of the new constitutional government Portuguese about Brazil, after the return of the king D . John VI to Portugal on April 26, 1821. According to this decree, in charge of weapons in the provinces would respond only to the Cortes in Lisbon, is expressly independent of the Provincial Government Juntas.
In early 1823, a contingent of Portuguese troops arrived in Salvador to strengthen military personnel loyal to Portugal parked. The Prince Regent D. Peter named Pedro Manuel for the troops loyal to Brazil, but they were beaten by the Portuguese, tactical retreat to the region of Recôncavo, since here the inhabitants were supporters of independence.
Thus began a siege of Salvador, where they were concentrated traders and Portuguese soldiers. Under siege, the city was held incommunicado, without receiving food and ammunition. In this context, Madeira de Melo asked for aid to Portugal, while D. Peter sent the French general Pierre Labatut to strengthen the Brazilian troops.
In an attempt to break the blockade, Madeira de Melo took the offensive, cutting himself the Battle of Pirajá (November 8, 1822), in favor of Brazil, forcing the troops Wood Melo to retreat to El Salvador.
In early 1823 the situation of the besieged capital deteriorated quickly, without food, disease began to spread among the population. Given this situation, Madeira de Melo let out in Salvador, with about ten thousand people left the city. In late May, a Brazilian fleet under the command of the English Thomas Cochrane blocks Salvador. Understanding the resistance to be useless, the Portuguese troops surrender, leaving the city. The July 2, entered the Brazilian forces victorious in Salvador.