Salvador de Sá

Salvador de Sá

Salvador Correia de Sá e Benevides
Born 1602
Cádiz, Kingdom of Spain
Died 1688
Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
Nationality Portuguese
Occupation Soldier, colonial governor
Known for Fighting the Dutch in Brazil, and expelling the Dutch from Angola and São Tomé.

Salvador Correia de Sá e Benevides (b.1602 Cadiz - † January 1, 1688 Lisbon) was a Portuguese soldier and politician. In 1625 he fought the Dutch invasion of Salvador in Brazil and regained Angola and São Tomé Island from the Dutch in 1647. He was governor of Rio de Janeiro, Southern Brazil and Angola.

Biography

Salvador Correia de Sá was born in the family of the Sás, being the great-grandson of Mem de Sá, third Governor-General of Brazil and Estácio de Sá, founder of the Rio de Janeiro city. In 1625 he fought the Dutch invasion of Salvador, joining a combined Spanish and Portuguese fleet of fifty-two ships that regained the control of the former capital of Brazil. He became governor of the Rio de Janeiro captaincy in 1637. He acclaimed John IV of Portugal in 1641 at the beginning of the Portuguese Restoration War, which cost him many of the assets he held in Peru and Spain. Back in Portugal, in 1643 was named general of the fleets of Brazil and member of the Overseas Council. In order to resolve the issue of the Dutch occupation in Africa, in 1647 he commanded a fleet that regained Angola and São Tomé for Portugal, then he was appointed governor of Angola. From 1658 until 1662, was appointed governor and captain-general of the captaincy in southern Brazil. Back in Portugal, has remained until death as a member of the Overseas Council. In 1678, he volunteered to command the expedition to Angola to moderate rebellion, near Mombasa, but the age did not allow his desire.

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