José da Silva Pais

José da Silva Pais (25 October 1679 in Lisbon – 14 November 1760 in Lisbon) was a Portuguese soldier, military engineer and colonial administrator in the Portuguese colony of Brazil.

José da Silva Pais
Portrait, c. 1737
Governor of Rio Grande do Sul
In office 1737–1737
Monarch	John V of Portugal
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	André Ribeiro Coutinho
Governor of Santa Catarina
In office 7 March 1739 – 25 August 1743
Monarch	John V of Portugal
Preceded by	António de Oliveira Bastos
Succeeded by	Patrício Manuel de Figueiredo
Governor of Santa Catarina
In office 20 March 1746 – 2 February 1749
Monarch	John V of Portugal
Preceded by	Pedro de Azambuja Ribeiro
Succeeded by	Manuel Escudeiro Ferreira de Sousa
Personal details
Born	(1679-10-25)25 October 1679 Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
Died	17 November 1760(1760-11-17) (aged 81) Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal
Spouse	Máxima Teresa da Silva
Military service
Allegiance	Portuguese Empire
Branch/service	Army
Rank	Brigadier general
Battles/wars	Spanish–Portuguese War (1735–1737)

He was involved in diverse situations in the disputed territories between the Portuguese and Spanish in the territory that today is the South region in Brazil. He organized the support for the Sacramento Colony during the Spanish–Portuguese War (1735–1737), and went head-to-head with his Spanish rival, Don Pedro de Ceballos Cortez y Calderón.

For the purpose of maintaining the southern territory in the hands of Portugal, Pais founded the city of Rio Grande in 1737 and projected and built the Fort Jesus Maria e José. That area was the object of the Spanish incursions commanded by Pedro de Ceballos, who invaded it twice.

On Santa Catarina Island, when it was in Spanish hands under the authority of Pedro de Ceballos, the Brigadier General Pais invaded and took the island for Portugal, placing himself as governor. He remained governor of the captaincy of Santa Catarina from 1739 until 1745.

He planned the construction of forts which would constitute the defense of Santa Catarina Island: in the north, Fortaleza de São José da Ponta Grossa, Fortaleza de Santa Cruz de Anhatomirim, and Fortaleza de Santo António de Ratones; and in the south: Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Araçatuba.