Province of the Azores

The Province of the Azores was an administrative unit of Portugal encompassing the archipelago of the Azores between 1832 and 1833. It was created by Decree 28 of 4 June 1832 and signed by Peter IV in the name of his daughter, Queen Maria II of Portugal.

The Province of the Azores resulted from the abolishment of the Captaincy-General of the Azores, but retained its capital in the city of Angra do Heroísmo, on the island of Terceira. The administrative territory was divided three comarcas: Angra, administered by a prefect; Ponta Delgada, and Horta, administered by sub-prefects.

The Province of the Azores was abolished on 28 June 1833 by Decree 64, which divided the archipelago into two separate provinces: the Província Oriental dos Açores (Eastern Province of the Azores), that included the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria, with its capital in Ponta Delgada; and the Província Ocidental dos Açores (Western Province of the Azores), with its capital in Angra and administrating the remaining islands of the archipelago.

Administration
Prefect:
 * 1) 1832-1833 &mdash; Francisco Saraiva da Costa Refóios, 1st Baron of Ruivós

Sub-Prefect of Ponta Delgada:
 * 1) 1832-1833 &mdash; Luís Ribeiro de Sousa Saraiva;
 * 2) 1833-1833 &mdash; António José de Ávila (did not take office, since he was never permitted to disembark in Ponta Delgada);
 * 3) 1833-1833 &mdash; José Caetano Dias do Canto e Medeiros (refused to take office);
 * 4) 1833-1833 &mdash; Felix Pereira de Magalhães (refused the nomination).

Sub-Prefect of Horta:
 * 1) 1832-1833 &mdash; António Mariano de Lacerda;
 * 2) 1833-1833 &mdash; António José de Ávila.