Commander Vital de Oliveira

Career

He worked at a time when charts of the Brazilian coast were drawn by French hydrographers and distributed by the British Admiralty. His surveys matched the quality of the French work.

He surveyed and charted the Rocas Atoll, 120 miles off the coast, fixing positions by astronomical observation. He did the work aboard the Iate Paraibano, a 23-metre sailing vessel.

The government entrusted him with the general survey of the coasts of the Empire. He wrote a pilot guide to the coast of Brazil, from the Mossoró River to the São Francisco do Norte River, which his widow completed and published after his death.

He died in 1867, aged 37, hit by enemy artillery while commanding the ironclad Silvado at the passage of Curupaiti, in the Paraguayan War. In 1976 he was named patron of Hydrography.

Timeline

1. 1829Born on 28 September, now celebrated as Hydrographer's Day.
2. 1867Killed in action at the passage of Curupaiti, in command of the ironclad Silvado.
3. 1976Named patron of Hydrography by Decree 77,070.
4. 2012The Navy, the Ministry of Science, Petrobras and Vale sign the agreement for the research ship that will bear his name.
5. 2014The hull of the hydro-oceanographic research ship Vital de Oliveira is launched.

Legacy

The hydro-oceanographic research ship Vital de Oliveira bears his name, and Hydrographer's Day, 28 September, marks his birthday.

Sources

1. Decreto nº 77.070, de 21 de janeiro de 1976
2. LIMA JUNIOR, A. R. P. "Hidrografia! Hidrografia!". Revista Marítima Brasileira, 4º trim. 2014
3. FERREIRA, A. M. "Aula inaugural para a 77ª turma do CAHO". Anais Hidrográficos, LXXXI (2024)
4. "O Navio de Pesquisa Hidroceanográfico Vital de Oliveira". Revista Marítima Brasileira