Born in Lisbon in 1870, he was the son of engineer Ricardo Júlio Ferraz and his wife Catherine Prescott Hickling Ivens.

He then attended the Escola Politécnica in Lisbon and the School of the Army, where he completed the Artillery course with a high mark in 1893.

[2] In the First World War, Ivens Ferraz was appointed chief liaison officer of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP) with the British army in France in 1917.

[5][6] Promoted to General in 1928, Ivens Ferraz was appointed Prime Minister by then President Carmona on 8 July 1929, holding office until 21 January 1930.

His differences over the future of the regime with the Finance Minister, Salazar, who defended an authoritarian model, eventually led to the fall of the government.