António José de Ávila, 2nd Marquis of Ávila and Bolama

[1] After initiating his studies in the officer's program, he was promoted to alferes in 1868 and scaled, throughout his life, the military hierarchy: lieutenant (1870), captain (1873), major (1884), lieutenant-colonel (1890), colonel (1893) and brigade general (1906), where he eventually passed into the reserves in 1909.

During this career, as lieutenant he became a functionary in the Ministry of Public Works (Portuguese: Ministério das Obras Públicas), where he held the post of exam jurist in the Civil Engineering course.

[1] His career in the Chamber of Deputies began in 1875, and only ceased on 2 December 1885) when he was elected Peer of the Kingdom, for the electoral districts of Horta and Vila Real (he opted for the latter): he maintained this peerage until 1909.

[1] Although early in his life he opted to represent Vila Real, he was an extremely diligent and active supporter of the peoples of the district of Horta (and in particular, Faial).

[1] The O Globe wrote, "Count of Ávila [managed to wrangle] from the Rengerator Government the concession of the vast edifice and courtyard of the extinct convent of the Franciscans...and for the Convent of Glória...[as well as] advantages in the contracts for the ship navigating to the metropole and the ports of the islands in our territory...and the preparatory work that resulted in the yards for the submarine cables that put us in rapid communication with the world.