GOUVEA, ALEXANDER de. - Of the Regular Third Order of S. Francesco, bishop of Peking, b. 2 Aug. 1751 at Evora (Portugal), d. 6 July 1808. He professed religious vows in 1773; he pursued his studies at the University of Coimbra, where he obtained a degree in mathematical sciences. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Lisbon. Elected bishop of Peking in 1782, he received consecration at Goa on 2 Feb. 1783.
His extensive learning earned him the office of president of the Tribunal of Mathematical Sciences in Peking. Although living under a regime of persecution, he enjoyed great esteem at court and thereby obtained the release from prison of several apostolic vicars. A most zealous pastor, he succeeded in pacifying minds and healing divisions among the missionaries. His manuscripts in Chinese, Latin, and Portuguese are held in the Library of the Convent of N. Signora de Jesús in Lisbon.