Surrender of São Luís

July 1823, São Luís, Maranhão

Brazilian success; Maranhão surrendered without a fight

After chasing the Bahia convoy into the Atlantic, Cochrane took Pedro I north on his own initiative to Maranhão, where the Portuguese still held the capital, São Luís. He arrived on 26 July flying Portuguese colours, seized the ships in the harbour, and told the authorities that a large Brazilian fleet and army were just over the horizon. There was no such force, but the junta believed him, and within days the town and its garrison surrendered and the province joined the empire. Cochrane then sent John Pascoe Grenfell in a captured brig to Belém, where the same bluff brought Pará over in August.

Map

• Cochrane sails for Maranhão July 1823