Sá da Bandeira, Bernardo

(real surname Sá de No-gueira de Figueiredo). Born Sept. 26, 1795, in Santarém; died Jan. 6, 1876, in Lisbon. Portuguese political figure.

Sá da Bandeira took part in military operations against Napoleonic France after entering the military in 1810. Later, he became an engineer. During the years 1826–28, he fought in Portugal against the absolutist followers of Miguel, after whose victory he moved to Great Britain. At the end of 1829 he arrived at the island of Terceira. From here, on July 8, 1832, together with other adherents of constitutionalism, he arrived at the city of Porto, where he was subsequently appointed military governor. He lost his right arm during the siege of the city by the supporters of Miguel while defending the position at Alto da Bandeira. After the siege, he was promoted to the rank of general and given the title Baron Sá da Bandeira. In September 1835 he became a marquis. During the revolutionary events of 1836, he was one of the leaders of the Septembrists (advocates of the Constitution of 1822). Sá da Bandeira occupied ministerial posts on several occasions and was prime minister in the years 1836–37, 1837–39, 1865, 1868–69, and 1870.