Timeline / 1880 to 1900 / PORTUGAL
Date
Country
Theme
1880
Portugal
Rediscovering The Past
Celebration of the third centenary of the death of Luís de Camões. His poetry is
considered the epitome of Portuguese literature both for The Lusiads, the epic
national poem in which Vasco da Gama tells the history of Portugal to the Samorim
(king) of Calcutta upon his arrival in India in 1498, and for his love sonnets.
1880
Portugal
Rediscovering The Past
The 11th International Congress of Anthropology and Prehistoric Archaeology is
held in Lisbon. This important conference gives international recognition to the
dynamism that Portuguese archaeology has demonstrated since 1850.
1880
Portugal
Rediscovering The Past
The remains of the poet Luís de Camões and the explorer Vasco da Gama are
moved to the Jerónimos Monastery. Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões (north
and south side respectively), the two main representatives of the 16th-century The
Lusiads epic poem, are honored and rest beside members of the Avis dynasty
buried in Jerónimos.
1880
Portugal
Cities And Urban Spaces
3 October: Barbadinhos steam pumping station is inaugurated. The water from the
Alviela Canal starts to be pumped thus increasing the water supply to Lisbon.
1880
Portugal
Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Publication of the novella O Mandarim (The Mandarin) by Eça de Queirós
(Queiroz) (1845–1900).
Date
Country
Theme
1881
Portugal
Travelling
With a thorough knowledge of the African hinterland, António da Silva Porto
appeals to the Sociedade de Geografia to sponsor a plan for the scientific
and commercial exploitation of Africa. The remote hinterland was about to be
discovered by explorers and Africa’s boundaries defined by the colonial powers.
1881
Portugal
Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Publication of Portugal Contemporâneo, by Joaquim Pedro de Oliveira Martins
(1845–94). Detailed analysis of the events between 1826 and 1868, it is
considered the most clear-sighted study of Portugal in the 19th century. The author
makes a general criticism of Portuguese liberalism, presented as a historical
account.
1882
Portugal
Reforms And Social Changes
Inauguration of the first public kindergarten in Lisbon and Porto by followers of
the Froebel method. The pupils, aged from 3 to 7 years, are divided into four age
groups, each with a classroom; the plan includes a games room, toilets, offices and
a refectory. The method respected the learning rhythm of the children and created
didactic tools.
1882
Portugal
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
The concession for telephone lines is signed and they are first installed in Lisbon
and Porto. The first telephone list of Lisbon is published with 22 numbers located
around 1.5 km from the telephone exchange. Public telephone cabins were
installed and opened from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. though always available to firemen,
police and doctors.
1882
Portugal
Fine And Applied Arts
White Houses of Capri by naturalist painter António Carvalho da Silva Porto (1850–
93) represents the new interest in travelling and other cultures.
1883
Portugal
Travelling
Date
Country
Theme
A Commission of Cartography is created to prepare an atlas of all Portuguese
colonies and map three expeditions to Africa. The first expedition (1884–85),
undertaken by Roberto Ivens and Hermenegildo Capelo, starts in Moçâmedes in
Angola (in present-day Namibia) aiming to reach to the east coast. The expedition
members would face risks from hunger, cold, harsh nature, the wildlife and the
tsetse fly.
1884 - 1885
Portugal
Political Context
Berlin Conference called by Portugal to regulate European colonisation and
convened by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. The Portuguese government
presents the "Pink Map”, a project uniting the colonies of Angola and Mozambique
through the corridor of land that separates them. The proposal is rejected by
England although endorsed by the majority of countries.
1884 - 1888
Portugal
Travelling
The Muatiânvua Expedition to Angolan’s Lunda territory led by Major Henrique
de Carvalho provides exceptional scientific data on meteorology, zoology,
ethnography and linguistics and photographic records. This second great
expedition aims to counter the diversion of trade from Malanje to Zaire
implemented by other colonial countries.
1884
Portugal
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Estacio Pharmacy in Porto founded in 1883 starts to produce the first pills for
medication. The preparation of manipulated medicines in the apothecaries of
the Catholic monasteries and convents (Boticas de Convento) is replaced by the
production of medicines by laboratory pharmacies.
1885
Portugal
Travelling
21 June: the expedition of Roberto Ivens and Hermenegildo Capelo reaches
Quelimane, Mozambique, after 14 months. Throughout their 8,300 km expedition
across the African hinterland, Ivens wrote and drew sketches and maps, while
Capelo collected specimens of plants, rocks and animals. The constant desertions
and sickness and death of the bearers increased the danger and uncertainty.
1885 - 1887
Portugal
Travelling
Date
Country
Theme
The third great expedition, undertaken by Serpa Pinto and Augusto Cardoso, aims
to establish a trade corridor between the eastern region of lakes, and the coast of
Mozambique. Major Serpa Pinto fell ill and was replaced by Augusto Cardoso who
reached Quelimane after a journey of 2,500 km lasting 20 months, during which
some agreements were signed with African chiefs.
1885
Portugal
International Exhibitions
“Exposition Universelle”, Antwerp. Sponsored by the Sociedade de Geografia de
Lisboa and Banco Nacional Ultramarino, the Portuguese Pavilion reflects a strong
Islamic influence.
1885
Portugal
Travelling
20 September: After their return to Lisbon a triumphal reception was offered to
Capelo and Ivens by several Portuguese associations. During the solemn session
organised by the Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa (SGL) at the Teatro Real de
S. Carlos, following their lectures, the explorers receive the SGL gold medal from
King Luís I.
1885
Portugal
Fine And Applied Arts
O Grupo Do Leão painted by Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro is a landmark in 19thcentury painting both for its quality and for its subject matter. The depicted group of
artists in the Leão beer house were linked to the Portuguese Naturalist and Realist
painting movement. This work became famous and marked the beginning of a
period of great artistic activity.
1885
Portugal
Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
The birth of Guilhermina Suggia (d. 1950). This great Portuguese cellist was a pupil
of Pablo Casals, with whom she lived for some years. The two were considered the
world’s greatest cellists. She played as a soloist with prestigious orchestras. She
devoted the last years of her life to teaching but continued to give concerts.
1886
Portugal
Cities And Urban Spaces
Completion of the construction of Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon. Engineer
Frederico Ressano Garcia (1847–1911) followed Joseph Pezarat’s plans. Inspired
by Haussmann’s Parisian boulevards, Avenida da Liberdade is testimony to
the economic boom of the Fontismo period, with new residential areas built for
investment and profit.
Date
Country
Theme
1886
Portugal
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Opening of D. Luís I road bridge over the Douro River in Porto. At the time this
iconic bridge held the record for the longest iron arch in the world (180 m.) It was
a huge advance for the urban traffic network since it allowed a road connection
between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia over the Douro.
1886
Portugal
Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Augusto Hilário (1864–96), the quintessential fado singer of Coimbra, enrols at the
University of Coimbra and became a symbol of “Coimbra Serenade”. "Fado Hilário"
is his best known work as a composer and writer.
1887
Portugal
Travelling
The Naval Academy is founded for teaching and research on Portuguese tropical
medicine. Its purpose is to provide access to tropical medicine for general medical
students and as a specialty for naval doctors. The Academy had a small laboratory
for some diagnostic tests.
1887
Portugal
Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Publication of A Relíquia (The Relic) by Eça de Queirós. The novel criticises the
hypocrisy of the Portuguese society.
1888
Portugal
International Exhibitions
Portuguese Industrial Exhibition in Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon.
1888
Portugal
Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Date
Country
Theme
Publication of Os Maias by Eça de Queirós. A mature romance and perhaps his
best known. Focused on the saga of the Maia family through three generations,
it debates the issue of the country’s destiny, in the context of the Constitutionalist
ennobled bourgeoisie, whose good intentions end up capsizing.
1888
Portugal
Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Birth of Fernando Pessoa (d. 1935) is the classic author of Portuguese modernism.
His books are published under different names, which he called heteronyms (not
pseudonyms), each one corresponding to a cycle of experimental attitudes, which
unfold in contradictions.
1888
Portugal
Travelling
The neo-Manueline Palace of Bussaco, modelled on the Manueline Belém Tower
of Lisbon is commissioned by King Carlos I as a royal retreat. It combines the
architectural fashion of castle romanticism (German Burgenromantik) with the neoManueline gothic style that evokes the Portuguese Discoveries.
1889
Portugal
International Exhibitions
At the Paris “Exposition Universelle” Bordalo Pinheiro’s (1846–1905) famous
ceramics decorating the interior of the Portuguese Pavilion are a main attraction for
the cosmopolitan visitor.
1889
Portugal
Political Context
10 October: Coronation of King Carlos I (28 September 1863 – 1 February 1908)
Despite the King’s attempt to reform the political system, the growing urban
influence of the Republican Party and the people´s discontent were fostered by
cash payments made to the Royal House.
1890
Portugal
Cities And Urban Spaces
Date
Country
Theme
The railway station of Rossio (Lisbon) designed by the Portuguese architect José
Luís Monteiro, begun in 1886 and inaugurated on 23 November of 1890. Located
in the historical centre, the Rossio station follows the neo-Manueline architectural
style and is an important building of the 19th-century late Romantic style.
1891
Portugal
Reforms And Social Changes
October: Domitilia de Carvalho is the first woman to study at the University of
Coimbra. She is obliged to wear black, sober costumes and a discreet hat to
go unnoticed among her male colleagues. A brilliant student she graduated in
mathematics (1894), philosophy (1895) and medicine (1904).
1892
Portugal
Economy And Trade
13 June: bankruptcy is declared in Portugal causing tremendous popular outrage.
The deficit in the public finances, the dependence on foreign funding and incipient
industrialisation are contributing factors to this crisis.
1892
Portugal
Cities And Urban Spaces
18 August: Praça de Touros do Campo Pequeno (Campo Pequeno Bullring) opens
its doors with a gala show. Built in an area assigned to the Casa Pia (educational
establishment for children in need) by the city of Lisbon in 1889 the bullring was
designed by the architect António José Dias da Silva (1848–1912) and inspired by
Madrid's bullring.
1893
Portugal
Rediscovering The Past
Creation of the Portuguese Ethnological Museum, which in 1906 opened its doors
to the public at the Jerónimos Monastery in the Belém area of Lisbon. The museum
is currently designated the National Museum of Archaeology.
1895
Portugal
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Date
Country
Theme
The first car in Portugal, a Panhard et Levassor, is personally imported from Paris
by the fourth Count of Avilez. The Lisbon Customs did not know how to tax this
awkward item. Was it a farm machine or a locomotive? They chose the second
option. Count Jorge Avilez drove from Lisbon to his farm in Santiago do Cacém at
15 km an hour.
1896
Portugal
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
First X-ray made in Portugal by Henrique Teixeira Bastos, Professor of Physics at
Coimbra University. In 1895 Roentgen had discovered X-rays and the news was
published in Portugal in the newspaper Novidades in January 1896. This first X-ray
of the right hand of a boy with bone tuberculosis was made one week after.
1898
Portugal
Economy And Trade
Industrialist Alfredo da Silva refounds CUF (Companhia União Fabril), in Barreiro
in the beginning of the 20th century. CUF produced soap, candles and vegetable
oils, later becoming a leader of the fertilizer and other chemical products sector. Da
Silva gave residential quarters and free education to all his employees nationwide.
1898
Portugal
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
The teaching of astronomy as an individual science starts, taking advantage of
the astronomy teaching experience acquired since 1837 at the Lisbon Polytechnic
School. This school was meant to provide training for cartography surveys and
military preparation.
1900
Portugal
International Exhibitions
At the Paris “Exposition Universelle et Internationale”, the Portuguese pavilion is
called “Portugal and Portuguese Overseas Colonies”. Inside, on the ground floor,
are two main exhibitions: one on the works of João Vaz (1859–1931) painter of
harbours and fishing scenes, the other on natural forest products such as cork.
1900
Portugal
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Date
Country
Theme
By this year Portugal has 8,345 km of telegraphic lines and 443 telegraphic
stations. The telegraph is an urban phenomenon hand in hand with city
development. Due to the demand for telegraphic operators, several schools were
created. Submarine cables assured the telegraphic service between Portugal and
the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Africa.