Antonio Lopes dos Santos
Encyclopedia
António Adriano de Faria Lopes dos Santos (1917 - August 2, 2009) was Portuguese
former army general
who served as the Governor of Macau
from April 17, 1962, until November 25, 1966. He also served as the last Portuguese colonial governor of Cape Verde
. Lopes dos Santos, an army officer, engineer
and Staff Corp member, spent most of his career overseas based in the Portuguese Overseas Territories
, including Mozambique
, Macau
, Guinea-Bissau
and Cape Verde
. He held top military posts in Portugal both before and after the Carnation Revolution
.
, then known as Portuguese East Africa
, from 1959 until 1962.
In 1962, Lopes dos Santos was appointed the Governor
of Macau
and chief of staff
of Macau's military garrison. He held these posts until 1966, but remained involved with Macanese even after his departure. He was succeeded as Governor by José Manuel de Sousa e Faro Nobre de Carvalho.
Lopes dos Santos was further promoted to Major General
. He was appointed as the Senior Assistant to the Portuguese Guinea
Commander in Chief under Governor António de Spínola
from 1968 until 1970. (Portuguese Guinea is the present-day nation of Guinea-Bissau
).
He was further appointed as the last colonial Governor of Cape Verde
in 1970. He held the governorship of the islands until the aftermath of the April 25th, 1974, Carnation Revolution
in Portugal
. The revolution led to the achievement of independence for most of Portugal's overseas colonies.
Antonio Lopes dos Santos became Deputy Army Chief of Staff of Portugal following the Carnation Revolution. He also became head of both the Military Studies Centre and the Military Disciplinary High Council.
He remained involved in relations between Macau and Portugal. Lopes dos Santos became the president of the Jorge Álvares
Foundation (Fundação Jorge Álvares
), or FJA, in 2000. He remained head of the Jorge Alvares Foundation, a group dedicated to the strengthening of ties between Portugal and Macau, until his death in 2009. He also served as the head of the Portugal-China Friendship Association (AAPC).
Lopes dos Santos spent much of his free time during retirement hunting
.
Reacting to Lopes dos Santos' death, General Garcia Leandro, another former Governor of Macau, told the Macau Daily Times
, that Lopes dos Santos went through "very difficult times, under the political and economic perspectives, and he always showed his capability to find very balanced consensus through moderation and hardwork". Leandro added that, "for these qualities he (Lopes dos Santos) was deeply respected in Macau". Leandro also elaborated on Lopes dos Santos' commitment to Macau noting, "He was totally involved in his last and long activity, giving an important contribution for the reinforcement of those links."
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
former army general
Army General
For the army rank of General, as opposed to the specific rank of Army General, see General officer.Army General is a title used in many countries to denote the rank of General nominally commanding an army in the field...
who served as the Governor of Macau
Governor of Macau
The Governor of Macau was a Portuguese colonial official who headed the colony of Macau, before 1623 called Captain-major . The post was replaced on December 20, 1999 upon the transfer of administration to the People's Republic of China by the office of the Chief Executive of the Macau Special...
from April 17, 1962, until November 25, 1966. He also served as the last Portuguese colonial governor of Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. Lopes dos Santos, an army officer, engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and Staff Corp member, spent most of his career overseas based in the Portuguese Overseas Territories
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
, including Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
and Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. He held top military posts in Portugal both before and after the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
.
Colonial posts
Lopes dos Santos served as a district governor of MozambiqueMozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, then known as Portuguese East Africa
Portuguese East Africa
Mozambique or Portuguese East Africa was the common name by which the Portuguese Empire's territorial expansion in East Africa was known across different periods of time...
, from 1959 until 1962.
In 1962, Lopes dos Santos was appointed the Governor
Governor of Macau
The Governor of Macau was a Portuguese colonial official who headed the colony of Macau, before 1623 called Captain-major . The post was replaced on December 20, 1999 upon the transfer of administration to the People's Republic of China by the office of the Chief Executive of the Macau Special...
of Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of Macau's military garrison. He held these posts until 1966, but remained involved with Macanese even after his departure. He was succeeded as Governor by José Manuel de Sousa e Faro Nobre de Carvalho.
Lopes dos Santos was further promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. He was appointed as the Senior Assistant to the Portuguese Guinea
Portuguese Guinea
Portuguese Guinea was the name for what is today Guinea-Bissau from 1446 to September 10, 1974.-History:...
Commander in Chief under Governor António de Spínola
António de Spínola
António Sebastião Ribeiro de Spínola , GCTE, ComA was a Portuguese soldier, conservative politician and author, who was important in the transition to democracy following the Portuguese Carnation...
from 1968 until 1970. (Portuguese Guinea is the present-day nation of Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
).
He was further appointed as the last colonial Governor of Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
in 1970. He held the governorship of the islands until the aftermath of the April 25th, 1974, Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. The revolution led to the achievement of independence for most of Portugal's overseas colonies.
Antonio Lopes dos Santos became Deputy Army Chief of Staff of Portugal following the Carnation Revolution. He also became head of both the Military Studies Centre and the Military Disciplinary High Council.
Later life
Lopes dos Santos last official appointment was as the director of the Portuguese National Defense Institute.He remained involved in relations between Macau and Portugal. Lopes dos Santos became the president of the Jorge Álvares
Jorge Álvares
Jorge Álvares is credited as the first Portuguese explorer to have reached China and Hong Kong. The Fundação Jorge Álvares , founded by Vasco Joaquim Rocha Vieira prior to the handover of Macau, got its name from him also having reached there.-Exploration:In May 1513 Álvares sailed under the...
Foundation (Fundação Jorge Álvares
Jorge Álvares
Jorge Álvares is credited as the first Portuguese explorer to have reached China and Hong Kong. The Fundação Jorge Álvares , founded by Vasco Joaquim Rocha Vieira prior to the handover of Macau, got its name from him also having reached there.-Exploration:In May 1513 Álvares sailed under the...
), or FJA, in 2000. He remained head of the Jorge Alvares Foundation, a group dedicated to the strengthening of ties between Portugal and Macau, until his death in 2009. He also served as the head of the Portugal-China Friendship Association (AAPC).
Lopes dos Santos spent much of his free time during retirement hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
.
Death
Governor General Antonio Lopes dos Santos died in Lisbon, Portugal, on August 2, 2009, at the age of 92.Reacting to Lopes dos Santos' death, General Garcia Leandro, another former Governor of Macau, told the Macau Daily Times
Macau Daily Times
The Macau Daily Times is one of the two daily English-language newspapers published in Macau, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, launched on June 1, 2007.- Overview :...
, that Lopes dos Santos went through "very difficult times, under the political and economic perspectives, and he always showed his capability to find very balanced consensus through moderation and hardwork". Leandro added that, "for these qualities he (Lopes dos Santos) was deeply respected in Macau". Leandro also elaborated on Lopes dos Santos' commitment to Macau noting, "He was totally involved in his last and long activity, giving an important contribution for the reinforcement of those links."