 He was born on August 8, 1865, in the Penha de França neighbourhood, in what is today's "freguesia" of Sé, in Funchal, to Manuel Rodrigues Gaspar, a carpenter and Maria Augusta.He was President of the Council of Ministers (Prime-Minister) in one of the First Portuguese Republic's many governments, between July 6, 1924 and November 22, 1924.He was also Minister of Agriculture between July 6 and 22, 1924.