José da Silva Lisboa

José da Silva Lisboa, first Baron and Viscount of Cairu (July 16, 1756 in Salvador – August 20, 1835 in Rio de Janeiro), was a Brazilian economist, historian, jurist, publicist and politician, active at the time of the Independence of Brazil and credited for the promotion of important economic reforms. He held various positions in the economic and political administration of Brazil after the transfer or the Portuguese Court in 1808, including Deputy of the Royal Chamber of Commerce (Junta do Comércio) and Judge of the House of Supplication (Casa da Suplicação - a court of appeal).

Lisboa played an important role in encouraging the teaching of political economy in the country, and participated actively in the drafting of the decrees that determined the opening of Brazilian ports (ending the Exclusive Metropolitan Trade which had restricted Brazil to only trade with Portugal) and the end of the prohibition of manufactures in Brazil.

Studies Son of a Portuguese architect, Henrique da Silva Lisboa, and Helena Nunes de Jesus, José studied in Bahia from the age of eight, especially philosophy, music and piano. He completed his studies at the University of Coimbra, where he attended legal and philosophical courses from 1774, graduating in 1778. Bachelor in canons by the University of Coimbra, he was appointed professor of national and moral philosophy in the city of Salvador, Bahia, a chair which he held for 19 years, besides having created the chair of Greek language in the city.

Public career In 1797 he returned to Portugal, obtaining his retirement and the appointment to the office of deputy and secretary of the Inspection Bureau of Sugar and Tobacco (Mesa da Inspeção da Bahia), where he took office in 1798 and stayed until 1808.

In 1801 he published his first book, Principles of Mercantile Law and Laws of the Navy for the use of the Portuguese youth, which includes maritime insurance, maritime exchange, damages, bills of exchange, merchant contracts, courts and causes of trade (or Princípios do Direito Mercantil e Leis da Marinha para uso da mocidade portuguesa, que compreende o seguro marítimo, o câmbio marítimo, as avarias, as letras de câmbio, os contratos mercantes, os tribunais e as causas de comércio). In 1804 he published his main work, the Principles of Political Economy (Princípios de Economia Política), the first Portuguese-written book inspired by Adam Smith's work. Lisboa was a proponent for free trade. He argued that Smith's The Wealth of Nations "established the chief principles which statesmen should follow... who desire to promote the prosperity of their country."

In 1832, he began to advocate for the creation of a university in Rio de Janeiro, a fact only concretized almost a hundred years later, with the foundation of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 1920.