The best article ever written about Dr. Da Silva!
By Roswell Bosworth, Jr.
Publisher Emeritus of the "Bristol Phoenix"
My Note
I arrived from Portugal, as an American Citizen, at New York City, on January 26, 1946. Forty four days after my arrival, I was examined by the American Forces and because I did not know English, I was classified 4FMD meaning "Mental Deficient". Ten years later I changed MD meaning "Mental Deficient" to MD meaning Medical Doctor!
With hard work and perseverance, I became very successful in my career as a Physician and also on my Historical Researches and Public Service Activities.
Now there is even a movement to make a proposal for me to enter into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame. Not bad for a "Mental Deficient"....
My deepest gratitude to Mr. Bosworth Jr. and the owners of the this newspaper.
a ) Manuel Luciano da Silva.
Here is the article published on September 10th, 2009
by the "Bristol Phoenix"
Dr. Da Silva to talk on Columbus
At Herreshoff Marine Museum
By Roswell Bosworth, Jr.
Dr. Manuel L. da Silva, well-known physician and historian, will be the guest speaker at the Herreshoff Marine Museum’s lecture series next Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m. One of his major topics will include the Portuguese origins of Christopher Columbus, who led four explorations to the western hemisphere beginning in 1492.
The doctor and his wife Sylvia have spent many years gathering clues to Columbus’ family history, and it was in the Vatican Library in Rome in 1992 that they uncovered the explorer’s Portuguese roots buried in the pages of four Papal Bulls written in Latin.
This discovery, plus many adventures in search of history by the da Silvas, became the topic of the 375-page book “Christopher Columbus was Portuguese.” The book was co-authored by the couple and was first published in Portugal, where 22,000 copies in four editions have been sold. An American edition was published last December.
The Portuguese edition caught the attention of the noted European movie director Manoel de Oliveira, who admired the depth of research the da Silvas had developed, and their personal story of working together throughout their married career.
Mr. de Oliveira created a movie titled “Cristóvão Columbus, the Enigma,’ which described the da Silva’s fascinating journey in pursuit of the explorer’s identity. The movie was first shown on Sept. 7, 2007 at the international film festival in Venice. The quality of the film resulted in the director receiving the Gold Award at Venice, and the Silver Legacy Award at its presentation in Washington, D. C..
The da Silvas received a Plaque-Tribute from the American Film Institute for writing the book which Mr. de Oliveira adapted to a film.
Dighton Rock
Dr. daSilva will also describe his half century of work with Dighton Rock, the 40-ton sandstone inscribed monument on the east shore of the Taunton River in Berkley, Mass, which mystified the first European settlers in the Bay State, and the native Wampanoags before them.
Dr. da Silva supports the contention of the late Brown Univ. professor Edmund B. Delabarre, Ph. D., who in 1918 declared the rock visual evidence left by Portuguese explorer Miguel Corte Real in 1511, based on the clear inscription “Miguel Corte Real 1511” in the center of the rock.
After identifying the inscribed name, Delabarre researched Portuguese maritime history and learned that Miguel Corte Real, an explorer and a member of the Portuguese royal court, left Lisbon, Portugal in 1502 in search of his brother Gaspar, who never returned from his second voyage to North America in 1501.
In subsequent years markings on the huge rock clearly show inscriptions of the Portuguese coat of arms, and the Cross of the Order of Christ.
The late Prof. Joseph Fragoso, of New York Univ., and Dr. da Silva have been involved for the past half-century in developing the Corte Real connection with Dighton Rock. This work has included several meetings in Portugal with Dr. Francisco Corte Real, a professor of forensic medicine at Coimbra University, where Dr. da Silva received his degree in medicine. Dr. Corte Real is a direct descendant of Miguel Corte Real.
Inscribed stone monuments on shorelines, such as Dighton Rock on the shore of the Taunton River, were a trademark of the early Portuguese explorers under Prince Henry the Navigator These were used consistently in Africa, India and Brazil, a coincidence which bolsters the validity of the “Miguel Corte Real 1511” inscription.
Dr. daSilva, who was born in Vale de Cambra, Portugal, came to New York City at the close of WWII, and after learning the language worked his way through New York University. He then studied at the medical school of Coimbra University, one of the outstanding institutions in Europe. After graduation with distinction he came back to America and served an internship at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. He then became affiliated with Lahey Clinic in Boston for a period of three years. In 1963 he joined the professional staff of the Bristol County Medical Center where served for close to 40 years. He and Mrs. da Silva have written eight books.
He served as Chief Marshal of Bristol’s Fourth of July celebration and president of the Bristol Rotary Club, was honored as a member of the Order of Prince Henry, and has been honored by a large number of civic and fraternal Portuguese-American organizations here and in Portugal.
His remarkable career led to the establishment of a library-museum in his honor at his birthplace in Cavião. Organizer of this effort was Álvaro da Costa Leite of Vale de Cambra, who, with 100 professional and social leaders in the county, restored the house in which the doctor was born, and built an adjoining two-story library to preserve the doctor's papers and books. The library is dedicated to four themes: medical science, Portuguese discoveries, history and archeology, and the Portuguese diaspora.
Mrs. Da Silva was born in Santana de Cambas, Portugal, where both of her parents were school teachers. She is a graduate of the College of Teachers in Faro, and holds a degree in teaching from Rhode Island College, and a master’s degree from Brown University. She has accompanied her husband with enthusiasm in cultural, historical and social activities throughout their married life.
The da Silvas have two sons, Manuel and José, and four grandchildren.