WILLIAM IV APPOINTS A CONSUL TO PORTUGAL IN 1834 WILLIAM IV (1762-1830, King of Great Britain)

Document with his fine signature at the head appointing Thomas Stephen Sorell, Esq., Consul at Oporto, as Consul at Lisbon, "for the encouragement of Our Subjects trading to the Kingdom of Portugal ... to aid and assist them in all their lawful concerns ... agreeable to the peace and Good Correspondence established between Us, and Our Good Sister The Queen of Portugal and the Algarves", desiring Queen Maria II to receive him "as Our Consul ... and the British Vice Consuls or Consular Agents whom he shall appoint, and upon all reasonable requests to do him and them that Justice and afford him and them that Assistance which may testify Her Friendship for Us, and which We shall upon all occasions be ready to acknowledge", signed also by Viscount PALMERSTON, (1784-1865, Foreign and later Prime Minister), vellum, 17" x 21¾" folding to 8½" x 8", Court at Brighton, 31st January

Issued at a critical time in Portuguese history. The eight years of Don Miguel's fight against constitutional government were almost over. The 'Liberators', under Don Pedro from Brazil, had captured and then been besieged in Oporto (July 1832 - July 1833). Then the Duke of Terceira and Sir Charles Napier created a daring diversion and captured Lisbon. Maria II, not yet fifteen, arrived from France in September 1833, but Don Miguel was not finally defeated till May 1834.

Item Date:  1834

Stock No:  54565      £350

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