[2] José do Patrocínio was born on 9 October 1854 in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes, to João Carlos Monteiro, a vicar and politician, and Justina do Espírito Santo, a young freed slave from Elmina, Ghana.

[1][2][3] After finishing school, Patrocínio went to Rio de Janeiro, where he served as a bricklayer during the construction of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia.

A friend of his invited him to live in the neighborhood of São Cristóvão, where he stayed at the house of a rich laird and captain named Emiliano Rosa Sena.

Patrocínio had been a staunch republican for years, but in 1888 he abruptly converted into a supporter of the Brazilian monarchy out of gratitude towards Princess Isabel when she signed the abolition of slavery on May 13.

In the following months he dissociated himself from his republican club and founded the Black Guard to protect the monarchy against the rebellious aristocracy and military.

He died during a speech in honor of Alberto Santos-Dumont at the Teatro Lírico in Rio de Janeiro, due to hemoptysis.