Manuel António Vassalo e Silva (8 November 1899 – 11 August 1985) was an officer of the Portuguese Army and an overseas administrator.

[citation needed] In 1958, he was nominated to replace Paulo Bénard Guedes as the 128th Governor-General of the Portuguese State of India.

[citation needed] When the Republic of India sought to annex the territories of Goa, Daman (from which had been previously separated in 1954 and annexed by India in 1961 the enclave of Dadra and Nagar Haveli) and Diu from Portuguese control in December 1961, Manuel Vassalo e Silva, recognizing the futility of facing a superior enemy, disobeyed direct orders from the President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) of Portugal and Dictator-for-life, António de Oliveira Salazar to fight to the death and surrendered the following day to the 48th Indian Infantry Brigade under Brig.

Gurbux Singh, following several losses and the destruction of the sloop NRP Afonso de Albuquerque.

[3] Recently[clarification needed] the Goan-Portuguese politician Narana Coissoró said that Salazar sent him a cyanide capsule for use in case of defeat.