Joze Joaqitim Da Cunha Azevedo-Coutinho
Joze Joaqitim Da Cunha Azevedo-Coutinho [1]
a Portuguese bishop, the last inquisitor-general of Portugal and Brazil, was born in the district of Campos dos Goitacazes, Brazil, Sept. 8, 1742. He commenced his studies at Rio de Janeiro, and went to Coimbra to finish them. He entered the order, and was almost immediately intrusted with many important affairs. In 1791 he took part in the great question of political economy, and defended before the government the interests of Brazil. This was the epoch of the publication of his excellent work entitled Ensaio Economico sobre o Comercio de Portugal e suas Colonias. In 1794 he was appointed bishop of Pernambuco, and four years later published at London, Analyse sur la Justice du Commerce. du Rachat des Esclaves de la Cete d'Afrigue, a response to the motion brought forward in the English Parliament to abolish slavery. He was chosen bishop of Elvas, and in 1818 of Beja, and in the same year received the title of inquisitor- general. He was appointed to represent the interests of the capital before the Cortes, which he did with zeal and ability. This was his last work. He died Sept. 12,1821. He wrote Memoria sobre a Conquista do Rio de Janeiro por Duque Tronin em 1711, which was first published in 1816 in Memosine Lusitana, and again in 1819 in a work published at London by Thompson. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.
