Quintela espoused Liberal ideals and, in 1831, he notably refused to offer a loan to the Miguelist side and was at once stripped of all his honours and privileges by decree: fearing for his life, he took refuge on board an English vessel anchored in the Tagus, disguised as a British naval officer; the rest of his family remained in the family palace in Rua do Alecrim, parish of Encarnação, above which now flew the Union Jack to prevent the residence from being stormed by the Absolutist forces.

Quintela sold all his assets to a British friend, Lord William Russell, and hid in the house of Diogo Carlos Duff, in Prazeres, assuming the false name of "Mr. Smith".

When the Liberal army took the city of Lisbon in 1833 and all but won the Civil War, its leader, Peter, Duke of Braganza, went immediately to Quintela in recognition of his relevant services.

He himself supported the artistic education abroad of António Manuel da Fonseca and Joaquim Pedro de Sousa, in Rome and Paris, respectively.

In mid-1838, he became the impresario of São Carlos Theatre, ushering in a notable season that saw the national premieres of Robert the Devil (2 September 1838), and Mozart's Don Giovanni (6 January 1839): he left the position in late 1840, in severe debt (of more than 90.000 réis).

Even though the Count of Farrobo had an inquestionable role in the political, social, and cultural life of Portugal, he is perhaps best remembered today for his legendary parties of great opulence and excess.

The theatre, inscribed over the entrance "hic mores hominum castigantur", became famous for the opulent functions it frequently hosted, though they were interrupted by the political agitation of the Civil War in the late 1820s and early 1830s.

The Theatre had the reputation of being the most distinguished and sophisticated salon in the capital; Queen Maria II herself was rather fond of the fêtes there and, following her death in 1853, the functions were interrupted temporarily out of respect.