Bernardo Vieira de Melo (1658–1718) was the first Governor of Rio Grande do Norte in the colony of Brazil.
Vieira was born in the parish of Muribeca (today Jaboatão dos Guararapes) in 1658, and began life as a colonial Brazilian backwoodsman.
Vieira de Melo was one of the first sesmeiros [pt] in the area; in 1671, he was awarded a 20-league land grant.
[2] On September 25, 1709 he was made Sergeant Major of the Third of Palmares, in which position he took an active part in War of the Mascates.
[2] Much of the land he conquered in Rio Grande was given by Vieira de Melo to various family members and other Portuguese elites to secure their support and to fortify and consolidate his own power.