João da Câmara Leme: The Polemicist (1862-1879)

Abstract

This paper is the result of a research carried out in the context of an academic work that deals with the polemics of João da Câmara Leme Homem de Vasconcelos (Funchal, February 22^nd, 1829 – February 13^th, 1902), an illustrious 19^th century Madeiran, whose branches he has explored professionally have been little researched from a scientific point of view. The course of this investigation raised historiographical material that deserves reflection in the form of a paper, which intends to be a small contribution to the Modern History of Madeira and, simultaneously, to launch new research clues.
There are individuals to whom the passage of time is benevolent. Sometimes ending up creating a bigger memory than their own life. This did not happen with João da Câmara Leme Homem de Vasconcelos, who was attributed, at the time, the epithets of “fair” and “wise”. However, almost 120 years after his death, few people remember his name and, even more unfair, rare are those who know of his intervention in the scientific, industrial and, above all, political fields, despite having been a citizen extremely dedicated to the generality of public life in Madeira in the second half of the 19^th century.
The study focuses on five polemics that João da Câmara Leme held, particularly with journalists and professional colleagues, between the 1860s and 1870s, and that deal with themes as diversified as Education, Medicine and Industry. With the aim of framing such controversies, an abbreviated chronology of the life of João da Câmara Leme was drawn up between the years of 1829 and 1879.

Keywords

Modern History; João da Câmara Leme; Polemics; Medical-Surgical School; Madeira Sugar Company; Periodical Press; Aerial Cable.