Manuel António Martins
Portuguese diplomat
Manuel António Martins (1772 in Braga-1845) was a Portuguese businessman and colonial governor of Cape Verde and Portuguese Guinea from 1834 to 1835. Martins was said to be the richest man in the country and nicknamed the Napoleon of the Cape Verde Islands. He arrived in Cape Verde in 1792. He started the exploitation of the salt ponds of Pedra de Lume on the island of Sal in 1796.
In May 1819, Martins co-established a fishing company with the Governor of Cape Verde, António Pusich. Martins's partnership with Pusich soured after Pusich accused Martin of trying to sell São Vicente and Sal to the British. After the accusation, Martins instigated a riot in Praia in May 1821 that led to the overthrow of Pusich. In 1819, Martins was appointed by Samuel Hodges, Jr. as an honorary vice-consul for the United States on the island of Boa Vista. He founded the town of Santa Maria on Sal in 1830.
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