Dinis Gregório de Melo Castro e Mendonça (Lisbon, 11 April 1735 — Angra, 3 December 1793) was a member of high nobility, military and Portuguese colonial administrator, who exercised the role as the Captain-General of the Azores (1771-1793).
[1] Noble in the King's Council, Castro e Mendonça was the last governor of the fortress of Mazagão,[2] and served in this post since 1763, under constant fire from enemy forces, until the fortification was abandoned in 1769.
Yet, it should not be neglected that the collection and management of income taxes, had an important impact on and originated many of the reform measures enacted in the transition from the 18th to 19th centuries, under the Count of Almada (appointed in 1799).
[3] It was at the time that the nascent orange industry began to take root: many of the gentleman-farmers started cultivating orchards of citrus fruit for export.
His family remained resident in Angra, until the reign of Maria II, when they returned to Lisbon, by Royal order and at the cost of their public honorary.