Joaquim José Machado

He was born in the city of Lagos, on 24 September 1847.^[1][2]

After completing his engineering studies, he enlisted in the army in October 1869. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant by 1873, lieutenant in 1875, captain in 1876, major in 1887, lieutenant colonel in 1892 and colonel on November 21, 1895, before being promoted to general.^[2]

In 1877, he was appointed Diretor das Obras Públicas de Moçambique (Director of Public Works in Mozambique), carrying-out several public works in the province, including the plan to lay-down part of the Lourenço Marques to Pretoria railway (originally commissioned by the president of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger).^[2]

In 1890, he was appointed Governor of the Province of Mozambique, a position he held until 1891, where was important during the period of the British Ultimatum. Further, he undertook the construction of a rail link between Moçâmedes and Bié Province in Angola, during his governorship. He would later repeat his role as governor on two separate occasions: in 1900, and between 1914 and 1915.^{[citation needed]}

During his time, he was part of the Board of Governors of the Companhia de Moçambique (Mozambique Co.), and headed Obra Públicas (Public Works department) of Moçâmedes.^{[citation needed]}

Meanwhile, between 1897 and 1900, Machado was appointed the 110th Governor of Portuguese India, before becoming a counsellor in 1902, where he was instrumental in renegotiating the Mormugao railway rates in London, while head of its management commission.^[3]

He died in Lisbon, on 22 February 1925.^{[citation needed]}