José Francisco da Terra Brum

José Francisco da Terra Brum, 1st Baron of Alagoa (Horta, 10 March 1776 – Horta, 22 January 1842), was a landed proprietor, a major landowner on the islands of Faial and Pico, a winegrower, and a wine merchant and exporter, who distinguished himself through his support for the liberal cause during the initial phase of the Portuguese Civil War.

Terra Brum was the first title holder of Baron of Alagoa, a noble title created by Queen Maria II by decree, dated 22 December 1841.

Terra Brum was descendant of Josse van Aertrycke, a Flemish nobleman who was one of the first colonizers of Faial in the 15th century.

Early years He was born in the city of Horta, on the island of Faial.

José Francisco's ancestors, the Terras and the Brums, were considered among the oldest and most distinguished families on Faial.

Career During his lifetime, Terra Brum became one of Faial's most significant landowners. With his vast rural estates, he was known as the morgado, a portuguese term for a landed proprietor.

By decree of 7 December 1832, Dom Pedro, Duke of Braganza, established a commission tasked with organising a new loan in the Azores Islands. The commission was composed of seven members, including the Viscount of Bruges, the Baron of Noronha, and prominent local figures such as António Mariano de Lacerda (Sub-Prefect of Vila da Horta), Manuel de Medeiros da Costa Canto e Albuquerque, Jacintho Ignácio Rodrigues da Silveira, José Francisco da Terra Brum, and Duarte Borges da Câmara Medeiros. The responsibilities of the commission included organising the issuance of shares, ensuring amortisation, and guaranteeing repayment through the revenues of the customs houses and public assets of the islands which had not yet been allocated to other purposes.

In 1832, he hosted the Duke of Braganza, the future King Dom Pedro IV, at his residence in Horta, a gesture later acknowledged by the Municipal Council with a commemorative plaque in 1877. During this visit, Terra was accompanied by his entire family, including his wife, ten children, and several servants.

Liberal Cause He was a prominent proponent of the liberal cause. When the liberal revolt in Horta took place in 1820, he became a member of the Horta Governing Junta. Leveraging his prestige and financial influence, he oversaw the organisation of the volunteer battalions from Faial that were integrated into the liberating army, which notably executed the landing at Mindelo.

Honours José Francisco da Terra Brum was one of the most prominent landed proprietors on the islands of Faial and Pico. He held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the militia a hereditary title for two lives, with the family seat of the barony being the lands he owned in Alagoa, near the mouth of the Conceição stream. He also held the rank of Knight of the Order of Christ.

Marriage and issue José Francisco da Terra Brum married his cousin, Francisca Paula Brum e Silveira's ancestors, the Silveiras, were also prominent members of Faial's aristocracy and held a significant entailed estate of their own.

Joaquina Emília da Terra Brum (1806–1881). She married, in her first marriage, in 1834, José Francisco da Câmara Berquó. She married, in second nuptials, in 1843, José Maria de Sequeira; José Francisco da Terra Brum, 2nd Baron of Alagoa (1809–1844); Francisca Emília Terra (1812–1900). She married, in 1843, João Bettencourt de Vasconcelos Corrêa e Ávila (1806–1868); Rita Emília Brum (1814–1829); João José (1816–1831); Francisco Inácio da Terra Brum (1817–1881); Tomás José Brum Terra (1818–1906). He married, in 1841, his cousin Maria Madalena Cunha (1817–1884), by whom he had issue; Manuel (1820). Died in infancy; Maria José Brum Terra (1822–1903). She married, in 1845, her cousin Jorge da Cunha Menezes Brum; Manuel Maria Terra Brum, 3rd Baron of Alagoa (1825–1905); João José Paim Brum Terra (1829–?). He married, in 1868, Adelaide Vasconcelos, a native of the city of Angra. Out of wedlock, Terra Brum had the following children with Olinda Mariana:

Eulália Joaquina Terra (1821–1903); Olinda Terra (1823–1905); Florêncio José Terra Brum (1825 – 1877). He married Maria dos Anjos da Silva Sarmento (?–1919) in 1854 and they had three children and one grandchild. Father of the Azorean writer Florêncio Terra.

Death and succession After José Francisco's death on January 22, 1842, his eldest son, José Francisco da Terra Brum, became the 2nd Baron of Alagoa. However, the second Baron Terra Brum died in 1844, leading to the extinction of the title.

In 1901, King D. Carlos reinstated the barony in favour of Manuel Maria da Terra Brum, José Francisco's ninth son. Like his father, Manuel Maria was one of the largest winegrowers on Pico and a prominent public figure on both sides of the Faial-Pico Channel.