Portugal History and Culture - Lisbon The Pombal Monument As early as 1855, Aires de Sa, an alderman on the Lisbon City Council, launched the idea of building a statue paying tribute to Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo,the Marquis de Pombal, the statesman largely credited with rebuilding Lisbon after the earthquake of 1755 and modernizing and secularizing the Portuguese state. In 1882, with royal support, the cornerstone was laid for a monument to commemorate the centenary of Pombal's death. Political and financial obstacles stalled its completion and it was only in 1923 that a Commission chaired by Vieira da Rocha successfully revived the project. In 1926 the cornerstone of the monument was ceremonially re-laid by the president of the republic, Bernardino Machado,shortly before he was deposed in a military coup.The monument was designed by architects Adães Bermudes and Antonio do Couto and the sculpture was started by Franciscodos Santos. He died before the completion of the project because of delays caused by political upheavals. Leopoldo d'Almeida and Simões d'Almeide were left to complete his work and it was finally unveiled by Marshal Antonio Oscar de Fragaso Carmona, who wasthe president of Portugal from 1926 until 1951. On May 13,1934,the statue towering over themodern traffic bustling around Lisbon's Pracca Marquês de Pombal, was finally completed. The Achievements of Pombal Listed on the Side of the Monument Reformas Politico-Sociais Expulsaodos Jesuitas Abolicaoda Escravatire em Portugal Emanipacaodos Indios em Brasil Repressaodos Abusos Aristocracia Nobilitacao das Classes Laboriosas Extincao das Desicualdades Entre Cristaos Velhos e Novos Renovacaodas Leise Da Jurisprudencia Exaltacaodo Presticio Nacional Reorganizacao do Exercitoe da Armada Oposicaoa Invasao Estranceira English Translation Political-Social Reforms Expulsion of the Jesuits Abolition of slavery in Portugal Emanipation of the Indians in Brazil Repression of Aristocratic Abuse Working Class Nobilization Extinction of Inequalities Between Old and New Christians Renewal of Laws and Jurisprudence Exaltation of National Pride Reorganization of the Army and the Fleet in Opposition to Foreign Invasion Return to the Portuguese Explorations Home Page.