João Franco Ferreira Pinto Castelo-Branco, GCTE (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈɐ̃w̃ ˈfɾɐ̃ku]; Fundão, Alcaide, 14 February 1855 – 4 April 1929) was a Portuguese politician, Minister, 43rd Minister for Treasury Affairs (14 January 1890) and 73rd Prime Minister in the last years of the Portuguese monarchy. He was the son of Frederico Carlos Ferreira Franco Freire (Fundão, Alcaide, 16 January 1829 - 1909), Nobleman of the Royal Household, and Luísa Henriqueta Pinto Correia da Costa Castelo-Branco (1835–1893).
Facing republican dissent, João Franco (who had become prime minister in 1906) established an authoritarian government in 1907. He was still in office when the King of Portugal, Carlos I of Portugal, and his son and heir to the throne, Luis Filipe, Duke of Braganza, were killed by republican revolutionaries on 1 February 1908. Franco was soon forced out (4 February) by Francisco Ferreira do Amaral; he never again held office. He was the 303rd Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword.
He married Maria Lívia Ferrari Schindler (1858–1950), of Swiss German and Italian descent, 915th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa of Spain (3 November 1893), daughter of Gaspar Schindler and Maria Lívia Ferrari, both born and married in Lisbon, and had a son Frederico Gaspar Schindler Franco Castelo-Branco (18 March 1888 - 3 January 1931), married on 22 May 1919 to Maria Rita de Sá Pais do Amaral (14 September 1897 - 27 July 1926), daughter of the 5th Counts of Anadia, and had issue.
| Preceded by Ernesto Hintze Ribeiro |
Prime Minister of Portugal (President of the Council of Ministers) 1906–1908 |
Succeeded by Francisco Ferreira do Amaral |