Martim Francisco Ribeiro de Andrada is best known for his involvement as a member of the 'Gabinete dos Andradas' and Minister of Finance in Brazil. His work as a naturalist, however, is less documented. It is investigated here as part of a contribution to the historiography of the sciences in Portugal's American colonies during the Enlightenment. Andrada held a degree in mathematics and natural philosophy from the University of Coimbra and worked alongside the naturalist, friar José Mariano da Conceição Veloso, on the typography from Arco do Cego, translating works on mineralogy and agriculture. On his return to Brazil, he took many trips around São Paulo capitania as General Director of the Gold, Silver and Iron Mines.
history of science; history of science in colonial Brazil; São Paulo capitania; Portuguese Empire; Martim Francisco Ribeiro de Andrada