[2][4] Through his father, Manuel de Araújo Lima, he was a descendant of settlers who had come from Portugal in the early 16th century with Duarte Coelho, the first captain general of Pernambuco.

As there was little access to primary schools, which were usually only to be found in larger towns, Pedro de Araújo Lima learned to read and write at home.

[7][6][8] His fellow Brazilians in Coimbra at that time included Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos, Manuel Alves Branco (later the 2nd Viscount of Caravelas), Cândido José de Araújo Viana (later the Marquis of Sapucaí), Miguel Calmon du Pin e Almeida (later the Marquis of Abrantes) and João Bráulio Muniz.

[11] In mid-1820, he was first offered the office of ouvidor (superior judge) and then a position as Provedor da fazenda, dos defuntos, ausentes, capelas e resíduos (Steward of finances, of the deceased, absent, chapels and residuals) in Paracatu, captaincy of Minas Gerais, but he declined both.

The military formed a provisional government and summoned the Cortes—the centuries-old Portuguese parliament, this time democratically elected with the aim of creating a national Constitution.