Francisco Ornelas da Câmara
| Francisco Ornelas da Câmara | |
|---|---|
| 12th Captain-Donatário of Praia | |
|
In office 1663–1665 |
|
| Monarch | |
| Preceded by | Luís de Portugal, 6th Count of Vimioso |
| Succeeded by | Brás de Ornelas |
| Constituency | Terceira |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Francisco Ornelas da Câmara 12 October 1606 Praia |
| Died |
28 April 1664 (aged 57) Praia |
| Resting place | Church of Santa Cruz, Praia |
| Citizenship | Kingdom of Portugal |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Residence | Praia |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Francisco Ornelas da Câmara (Praia, 12 October 1606 — Praia, 28 April 1664), nobleman and Azorean politician who was instrumental in the period of the Portuguese Restoration War, being responsible for its declaration in the Azores, and his military campaign against the Spanish-occupied Fortress of São João Baptista (1641-1642).
He was the son of Francisco Paim Câmara and D. Isabel de Sousa Neto, from noble families linked with early colonization, and involved in the governance of the village (later Captaincy) of Praia. He was 8 years old at the time of the great 24 May 1614 earthquake that leveled the village and surrounding parishes, resulting in the destruction and death in the area of Ramo Grande.
Following family tradition, at 24 years of age, on 4 July 1627, he was nominated to one of the four militia companies in the Captaincy of Praia. Two years later, in 1629, he left on a royal fleet, participating the battles in the north-east region of Brazil, after Dutch forces invaded.
On returning to Terceira, King Philip III of Portugal, by royal charter (dated 15 September 1636) he was nominated as the Captain-major and provisioner of the fortifications of Praia, positions that his father exercised 30 years previously. On the same occasion the King made him Knight in the Order of Christ.
On 3 December 1639 he departed for Portugal, remaining in Lisbon for a year, where (on 1 December 1640) he was present for the Restoration of Portuguese independence, and acclamation of the Duke of Braganza, D. John as King John IV of Portugal. In the company of nobles who supported the new monarch, Câmara was confided the mission of returning to the Azores, without any military support, to organize and motive the Azoreans to acclaim John as Portuguese sovereign in the Azores. With this task, he received from John IV royal letters addressed to the authorities of the islands, in addition with the authorization to negotiate with Spanish forces still on the islands (including promises in the name of the Crown for compensations and honours), for them to peacefully surrender.
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