Founded 1826 Seats 90 | Disbanded 1910 | |
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Type Upper house of the Portuguese Cortes First President (Lord Speaker) of the Chamber Nuno Caetano Álvares Pereira de Melo, 6th Duke of Cadaval Last President (Lord Speaker) of the Chamber Gonçalo Pereira da Silva de Sousa e Menezes, 3rd Count of Bertiandos | ||
The Chamber of Peers of Portugal, alternatively translatable as the House of Lords and formally styled the Chamber of the Most Worthy Peers of the Kingdom (Portuguese: Camâra dos Pares or Câmara dos Digníssimos Pares do Reino) was the upper house of the Cortes Gerais, the legislature of the Kingdom of Portugal during most of the constitutional monarchy period. Members of the Chamber were Peers of the Realm, appointed directly at the pleasure of the Portuguese monarch.
History
It was established before the Liberal Wars. The king appointed a number of the highest nobility to the chamber. It was composed of 90 peerages, who did not have a hereditary right to sit by descent, but were nominated by the king.
The chamber existed from 1826-1838 and again from 1842-1910, when it was known as the Chamber of Peers of the Realm (Câmara dos Pares do Reino).
One of the members was João Afonso da Costa de Sousa de Macedo, 1st Duke of Albuquerque.
The chamber met at the São Bento Palace. The successor of the chamber was the Senate.