Américo Ferreira dos Santos Silva was born in Porto on 16 January 1830.

In the 1860s he moved to Lisbon and held several positions before bring named archpriest on 13 August 1869 and serving as vicar from 1869 to 1871.

He received his episcopal consecration on 10 September 1871 from Inácio do Nascimento de Morais Cardoso, patriarch of Lisbon.

[citation needed] He distinguished himself in promoting the education of the clergy and their proper behavior.

[8] He received his red galero and the title of Santi Quattro Coronati on 27 February 1880.