Gérard Dominique Azevedo Continho y Bernal

Born in Mechelen on 4 August 1712, Azevedo Continho y Bernal was educated at the Oratorian College in Mechelen. His parents were Jean-Baptiste Azevedo Continho y Bernal, an infantry captain, and Jeanne-Marie Corten.^[1] In 1730, aged 18, was appointed to a canonry of the Basilica of Our Lady of Hanswijk.^[2] He was ordained to the priesthood on 24 September 1735.^[1] He served as provost of the chapter from 1763 until his death on 22 February 1782.^[1]

He was generous to the poor, and a patron of the arts, but particularly dedicated his free time to studying the sources of local history, in particular chronicles, archives and charters.^[2]

His own chronicle of Mechelen, Korte Chronyke der stadt ende provincie van Mechelen, was published in Leuven in 26 installments. He was also the author of a short life of St Rumbold, Kort Begryp van ’t leven, lyden en mirakelen van den H. Rumoldus, published in Leuven in 1763.