José António de Melo da Silva César e Meneses (Lisbon, 19 November 1763 — Lisbon, 10 December 1839), the 8th Count of São Lourenço, 2nd Count of Sabugosa, alcaide-mor of Elvas, ensign-chief of Portugal, gentleman of Royal Household, holder of the Grand-Cross in the Order of Christ and Commander in the Order of the Tower and Sword, was a high noble and general in the Portuguese Army, who between 1804 and 1806 was the 4th Captain General of the Azores.
[1] With his eldest son António José de Melo Silva César e Meneses as aide-de-camp, he remained in the Azores for almost a year and a half before returning to Lisbon after the death of his father, the 1st Marquess of Sabugosa, on 4 June 1805.
His tenure included the construction of a new pier in Praia, the establishment of a seminary in Angra and implementation of the military reorganization of the Azores that had been planned by his predecessors.
[2] Owing to the trauma on São Miguel, the Micaelense initiated a movement for emancipation from the Captains General, which would allow them to deal directly with Lisbon, rather than go through the King's representatives in the archipelago.
Defender of the legitimist pretender Miguel I of Portugal, he was a deputy in the Junta dos Três Estados [pt] and president of the Overseas Council.