Maia is primarily remembered for his leadership in the reconstruction efforts following the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, alongside Eugénio dos Santos and Carlos Mardel.

[2] On 12 November 1745, Maia was appointed High-Guardian of the Torre do Tombo, Portugal’s central archive, library, and precious works repository.

In 1747, Maia participated in the construction of the new building for the Queen Leonor of Viseu Thermal Hospital, in Caldas da Rainha, executing plans made by Eugénio dos Santos.

At 75 years old, Maia personally led the safe-guarding team to São Jorge Castle, where the archives were located, and saved nearly 90,000 pieces, accumulated between 1161 and 1696.

He ordered the construction of provisionary barracks to store the contents of the archives and immediately made a request to Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, King Joseph I’s prime-minister, for a new permanent home for the archives, which would eventually be granted to him in the form of the Convent of São Bento (which now houses the parliament of Portugal).