[1] After his studies in Madeira - in Calheta and Funchal - he left for the mainland to start a military career, where he volunteered for the Hunter Regiment No.

In his military capacity coordinated cartography works, including the Lisbon Plan with all the improvements made and projected in the city (circa 1910), a map of outstanding technical and artistic quality.

During his military career, he played an important role, having been part of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps in France during World War I (1917–18).

Thus, in a country in political turmoil, since the events leading up to the coup of 5 October 1910 then as captain, he supported King Manuel II.

His greatest involvement in national political life began on May 28, 1926, with a march led by General Gomes da Costa from Braga to Lisbon, to restore normalcy and order, following the instability and governing crisis of the First Republic.

Following his resignation as Prime-Minister he expressed his dissenting position on a conservative, nationalist constitutional revision project and the rise of the National Union as a single party, contrary to the objectives of its creation.