(Journalist and politician, born in the parish of S. Bartolomeu do Mar, Esposende)
Date: 1907
Location: Rodrigues Sampaio Square, in front of Esposende Parish Church
Material: Granite, Lioz Marble and Bronze
This bronze bust stands on a granite pedestal supported by a three-part column, adorned with bronze garlands. The middle section of the column bears inscriptions on Lioz marble, secured with bronze nails: “TO ANTÓNIO RODRIGUES SAMPAIO / ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION AND UNVEILED IN 1907 / BORN IN THE PARISH OF MAR IN 1806 / DIED IN CINTRA IN 1882”.
The bust was sculpted by José Moreira Rato Júnior (Moreira Rato), and the monument was designed by Manuel José Gonçalves Viana, a professor of Drawing and Architecture at the Escola Industrial Príncipe Real from Esposende.
Dressed in the uniform of a cavalry officer, the bust portrays Sampaio in a dignified and serene pose, with no visible emotion on his face. He wears the Collar of the Grand Cross of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword, with the sash diagonally across his chest and the Order’s badge on his left side.
The monument is located in Esposende’s central square, named Largo Rodrigues Sampaio. The foundation stone was laid on July 25, 1906, to commemorate the centenary of Sampaio’s birth.
Due to urban development since its installation, the monument has been moved slightly and its iron railings have been removed. The coins placed during the foundation stone ceremony are now kept in the Esposende Municipality’s Archaeology Service.
Born in the parish of S. Bartolomeu do Mar on July 25, 1806, to a humble family, Sampaio was a staunch defender of 19th-century Liberal causes and is considered one of the most important figures in Portuguese Liberalism. As a journalist, he was known for his controversial, polemical, and even revolutionary views, earning him the nickname “O Sampaio da Revolução” (Sampaio of the Revolution) for his role as the main editor of the newspaper “A Revolução de Setembro”. A prominent politician, he was remembered for his personality and principles, and held various political positions, including Prime Minister.
He died in Sintra on September 13, 1882, and is buried there.
Another bust of Sampaio, created by Teixeira Lopes in 1882, can be found in Porto.
Today, his name is associated with streets in Porto and Lisbon, as well as the main square and Municipal Forum in Esposende. His legacy has inspired an award, established by the Association of Journalists and Men of Letters of Porto, which, in partnership with the Municipality of Esposende, is awarded biennially to individuals who, through their work in culture and the media, contribute to a more inclusive and critical society. This award aligns with the cultural policy of the Municipality of Esposende and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
Esposende
