José da Silva Pais

José da Silva Pais (25 October 1679 in Lisbon – 14 November 1760 in Lisbon) was a Portuguese soldier, military engineer and colonial administrator in the Portuguese colony of Brazil.

José da Silva Pais
Statue of José da Silva Pais in Rio Grande, Brazil
Governor of Rio Grande do Sul
In office
1737–1737
MonarchJohn V of Portugal
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byAndré Ribeiro Coutinho
Governor of Santa Catarina
In office
7 March 1739 – 25 August 1743
MonarchJohn V of Portugal
Preceded byAntónio de Oliveira Bastos
Succeeded byPatrício Manuel de Figueiredo
Governor of Santa Catarina
In office
20 March 1746 – 2 February 1749
MonarchJohn V of Portugal
Preceded byPedro de Azambuja Ribeiro
Succeeded byManuel Escudeiro Ferreira de Sousa
Personal details
Born(1679-10-25)25 October 1679
Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
Died17 November 1760(1760-11-17) (aged 81)
Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
NationalityPortuguese
Spouse(s)Máxima Teresa da Silva
Military service
AllegiancePortuguese Empire
Branch/serviceArmy
RankBrigadier general
Battles/warsSpanish–Portuguese War (1735–1737)

He was involved in diverse situations in the disputed territories between the Portuguese and Spanish in the territory that today is the South region in Brazil. He organized the support for the Sacramento Colony during the Spanish–Portuguese War (1735–1737), and went head-to-head with his Spanish rival, Don Pedro de Ceballos Cortez y Calderón.

For the purpose of maintaining the southern territory in the hands of Portugal, Pais founded the city of Rio Grande in 1737 and projected and built the Fort Jesus Maria e José. That area was the object of the Spanish incursions commanded by Pedro de Ceballos, who invaded it twice.

On Santa Catarina Island, when it was in Spanish hands under the authority of Pedro de Ceballos, the Brigadier General Pais invaded and took the island for Portugal, placing himself as governor. He remained governor of the captaincy of Santa Catarina from 1739 until 1745.

He planned the construction of forts which would constitute the defense of Santa Catarina Island: in the north, Fortaleza de São José da Ponta Grossa, Fortaleza de Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim, and Fortaleza de Santo António de Ratones; and in the south: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Araçatuba.

Further reading
  • Piazza, Walter F. (1988) O Brigadeiro José da Silva Paes: Estruturador do Brasil meridional. Editora da Furg. ISBN 85-85042-25-7 (in Portuguese)
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