biography
| name: |
Pombal, Sebastião (José) de Carvalho (e Mello), marquês de (Marquess of)
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pronunciation:
[põbal]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1699–1782)
|
| biography:
| Portuguese statesman and chief minister (1756–77), born near Coimbra, C Portugal. He became ambassador to London (1739) and Vienna (1745), and secretary of foreign affairs (1750). He showed great resourcefulness in replanning the city of Lisbon following the disastrous earthquake of 1755, and became chief minister. He opposed Church influence, reorganized the army, and improved agriculture, commerce, and finance. He was made count (1758) and marquess (1770), but fell from office on the accession of Maria I (reigned 1777–1816). |
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