Almeida Garrett
Almeida Garrett, born João Baptista da Silva Leitão de Almeida Garrett in 1799 in Porto, Portugal, was a significant figure in Portuguese literature and politics. His family relocated to the Azores during the French invasion, where he received his early education. Garrett's academic journey continued at the University of Coimbra, where he emerged as a passionate advocate for liberalism and began writing plays, including the notable work "Lucrecia." After graduating with a law degree, his political views led to periods of exile due to opposition from authoritarian regimes, during which he spent time in England and absorbed the influences of Romantic literature.
Garrett's literary contributions include his celebrated poem "Camoes," which marked his shift from classicism to Romanticism. Throughout his life, he faced both imprisonment and exile due to his liberal views but remained actively involved in Portuguese politics, even participating in efforts to reform the nation’s laws. He played a pivotal role in establishing the National Theater of Portugal and is recognized as the greatest Portuguese dramatist, significantly shaping the Romantic movement within Portuguese literature. His legacy reflects a blend of artistic innovation and a commitment to social and political change.
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Almeida Garrett
- Born: February 4, 1799
- Birthplace: Porto, Portugal
- Died: December 9, 1854
- Place of death: Lisbon, Portugal
Biography
Almeida Garrett, whose full name was João Baptista da Silva Leitão de Almeida Garrett, was born in Porto, Portugal in 1799. At the age of five, Almeida and his family moved to Quinta do Castillo. Following the French invasion of Portugal, Garrett’s family was forced to move to the Azores, where Almeida received his early education under the tutelage of his uncle. In 1816 Garrett entered the University of Coimbra, where he quickly became known not only for his many talents, but also for his ardent views on liberalism. While he was still a student, Garrett wrote several plays, one of which, Lucrecia, was performed at the university in 1819. He graduated from Coimbra with a law degree and soon moved to Lisbon. In 1822, he married Luiza Midosi, although the union proved to be an unhappy one.
In 1823, because of his liberal views, Garrett was sent into exile on the orders of the Absolutist ministry that was then in power. He moved to England, where he became familiar with the English and German masterpieces of the Romantic literary movement. In 1825, he published his most famous poem, Camoes, which marked his transition from a classical to a Romantic writer. Garrett was allowed to return to Portugal in 1826, but his defense of liberalism in the press resulted a three-month imprisonment. When a new absolute king was crowned in 1828, Garrett was again forced to leave the country, and he returned to England. He spent the next three years in England, where he continued to write Romantic poetry and political pamphlets. When he learned that there was an expedition being organized in France to liberate Portugal, Garrett raised funds for the project and joined as a volunteer. Back in Portugal, Garrett joined forces with statesman Mousinho da Silveira, and together they drafted laws that would revolutionize Portuguese society. Throughout his lifetime, Garrett held many political offices, and he is credited with establishing the National Theater of Portugal. Garrett is considered as the greatest Portuguese dramatist, and he is equally well known for introducing Romanticism into Portuguese literature.