[1] He studied at the faculty of mathematics of the University of Coimbra between 1849 and 1853, and after a year at the Army School, he started working as military engineer.

He oversaw the construction of many public buildings and structures, including the customs house in Mindelo and the quay of the Port of Praia.

[1] In June 1860, he was appointed governor general of Cape Verde, succeeding Sebastião Lopes de Calheiros e Meneses.

He was succeeded by José Maria Lobo de Ávila in 1874,[4] and became minister plenipotentiary to China, Japan and Siam.

[5] He married Maria Clementina de Lancastre Vasconcelos e Sousa Leme Corte Real on 25 November 1885.