Marques de pombal biography of albert

He used his powers to introduce much-needed reforms. Little is known of Pombal's childhood. He derived from a rural family of the lower nobility and probably received a good education. He served in the cavalry for a while and eventually went to Lisbon, where, after working in the Academy of History, he eloped with a niece of the powerful Count of Arcoa.

This marriage opened many doors for Pombal. From to he was ambassador to London, in which post he came to understand and to resent his country's economic subservience to England.

Marques de pombal biography of albert: The son of a country gentleman

Soon after his return to Portugal in , Pombal's wife died. In he was sent as his government's representative to Vienna, where he married again. Upon his return to Lisbon in , Pombal was named junior minister in the government of King John V. Not long after Pombal's appointment, John V died and was succeeded by his son, the indolent and pleasure-seeking Joseph I reigned Pombal quickly consolidated his position within the government, and by the end of , after his energetic handling of the great crisis produced by the Lisbon earthquake, he was virtual dictator of Portugal, taking complete control of the machinery of government.