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2009
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Merchant established in Macao in the first half of the 17th century, he was one of the most prominent citizens in the city. In 1621 he was an opponent of the Society of Jesus in the contention of Ilha Verde. He is referred to in "Lista De La gente Efetiua que Ay Em esta Ciudade Assy, Vizinos Como estrauagantes forasteros E gente De lla tierra" of 1625 as being resident of the parish of Santo António. He was for certain a relative of Domingos Vaz Bavaro, mentioned in this same list. In that year he was supportive of the Jesuits in the issue of the Governor of the Bishopric of China, in opposition to Friar António do Rosário.

He was Superintendent of Santa Casa da Misericórdia in 1628 and 1642, and Alderman in 1643. He integrated the circle of elected and associates of the decades of the 1630s and 1640s, as well as the elite of power, wealth and knowledge of the city. He was among the citizens of Macao that formed this elite group, and had been part of the economic and power elite of the 1620s.

He participated in the debate that occurred between 1631 and 1637 on the new type of election for travel administrator of Japan, which was imposed by the Viceroy Conde de Linhares upon the suggestion of Chief Judge Sebastião Soares Pais.

When the discussion of the general charter took place on November 12, 1640, he was selected (together with Gaspar Corrêa Coelho) by the Leal Senado [Loyal Senate] to make the journeys to Macaçar, Japara, Sião, Cambodia, Cochinchina, and Tonquim, over Gaspar Borges da Fonceca and Jorge Bastião, who were the choices of the captains of the ships.

He signed the Term of May 31, 1642 on the occasion of the acclamation of D. João IV in the city.

He stood out in the contradictions of 1642, in which the Governor of the Bishopric, Friar Bento de Cristo, opposed the Commissaries of the Holy Office, Father Gaspar Luís and Father Gaspar do Amaral. He acted in accordance with Governor General D. Sebastião Lobo da Silveira.

In 1643 António Fialho Ferreira asked this merchant for the Habit of Christ with pension or the promise of a pension. In 1645 and 1646, he participated in the debate on sending an Embassy to Japan.

Bibliography:
ALVES, Jorge dos Santos, "Os jesuítas e a 'contenda da Ilha Verde. ' A primeira discussão sobre a legitimidade da presença portuguesa em Macau (1621)," in A Companhia de Jesus e a Missionação no Oriente, reports from the Colóquio Internacional promoted by Fundação Oriente and by Brotéria magazine, Lisbon, Brotéria: Revista de Cultura, Fundação Oriente, 2000. BOXER, Charles, A Restauração em Macau, vol.II, Lisbon, Fundação Oriente, 1993. PENALVA, Elsa, A Companhia de Jesus em Macau (1615-1626), Universidade de Lisboa, 2000 (hectographed master's thesis). Idem., Lutas pelo Poder em Macau (c.1590-c.1660), Universidade de Lisboa, 2005 (hectographed doctoral dissertation). SALDANHA, António Vasconcelos de, ALVES, Jorge dos Santos, Estudos de História do Relacionamento Luso-Chinês (séculos XVI-XVIII), Macau Instituto Português do Oriente, 1996.

Translated by: John Starkey