João de Deus

João de Deus is celebrated not only as a poet but, above all, for his pioneering method of teaching reading, grounded in European pedagogical principles and presented in 1876 in the work Cartilha Maternal ou Arte de Leitura (Maternal Primer or Art of Reading)

João de Deus de Nogueira Ramos was born on 8 March 1830 in São Bartolomeu de Messines (Silves).

Between 1850 and 1859, he studied law at the University of Coimbra. He later settled in Beja, where he served as editor of the newspaper O Bejense between 1862 and 1864, while also collaborating with other regional periodicals. Returning to Silves, he practised law alongside his work as a journalist. In 1868, he was elected to parliament. He subsequently moved to Lisbon, where he contributed to several newspapers and literary journals and began the systematic publication of his writings. Appointed Commissioner-General for Reading Education, he published the Cartilha Maternal in 1876.

He died in Lisbon on 11 January 1896 and was buried in the Monastery of the Jerónimos. His remains were transferred to the National Pantheon in 1966.