Fontes Pereira de Melo

António Maria de Fontes Pereira de Melo GCTE KGF (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈfõtɨʃ pɨˈɾɐjɾɐ dɨ ˈmɛlu]; Lisbon, 1819 – Lisbon, 1887) was a Portuguese statesman, politician, and engineer. He was the son of João de Fontes Pereira de Melo and wife and first cousin Jacinta Venância Rosa da Cunha Matos. Historically, he was a very important political figure, deputy, and in several occasions minister, six times Minister of Finance.
He is mostly remembered for conducting dynamic industrial and public infrastructure policy which become known as Fontismo (after his name). He implemented also educational reforms in accordance with the industrialization process started by him (see Instituto Industrial de Lisboa and Escola Industrial do Porto).
His younger sister, Maria Henriqueta de Fontes Pereira de Melo, wife of Vicente Rodrigues Ganhado, was granted the noble title of 1st Marchioness of Fontes Pereira de Melo.
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