[1] Construction of the fort of São Mateus began in 1581, after the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580, under the determination of the Corregidor of the Azores, Ciprião de Figueiredo e Vasconcelos.

[1] By the beginning of the 19th century, José Rodrigo de Almeida, developed a plan that included six cannons, each three in directed to the sea.

[1] Between 1828 and 1834, the fort took on a great importance during the defense of the island, owing to the Civil War, when Terceira became the headquarters of the Regency supporting Queen Maria II.

[1][8] By 1871, the fort was at the disposition of the Ministry of War (Portuguese: Ministério da Guerra) and summarily given to a veteran, so that he could reside with his family.

Contiguous with the fort, to the west, is a small defensive curtain, that some authors consider to be the remains of the fabled Reduto do Poço, still referenced by the end of the 18th century.