Birth. October 20, 1715, Lisbon. Baptized on that same day.

Education. Studied in Lisbon. Joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in the Reformed Congregation of the Holy Cross of Coimbra, 1738; took the name João de Nossa Senhora da Portas. Received the diaconate, May 15, 1740. (No further educational information found).

Priesthood. Ordained, May 22, 1740. During the earthquake of 1755 walked barefooted the streets of Lisbon carrying a heavy crucifix and announcing penance for the living and suffrages for the dead. Inspector for the rebuilding of Lisbon.

Episcopate. Elected titular bishop of Olimpo and appointed coadjutor of Leiria, with right of succession, March 28, 1746. Succeeded to the see of Leiria, April 8, 1746. Consecrated June 29, 1746, patriarchal basilica, Lisbon, by Cardinal Tomas de Almeida, patriarch of Lisboa, assisted by José Dantas Barbosa, titular archbishop of Lacedemonia, suffragan of Lisbon, and by Joao da Cruz, former bishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. Promoted to the metropolitan see of Evora, March 24, 1760. Inquisitor general of Portugal and Algarve, March 31, 1770. President of the Junta da Providência Literária, 1770, that studied the causes of the decadence of the universities and blamed the Jesuits for it.