Bernardim Freire de Andrade

Bernardim Freire de Andrade
Born	18 February 1759 Lisbon, Portugal
Died	17 March 1809 (aged 50) Braga, Portugal
Allegiance	Portugal
Years of service	1781–1809
Rank	Lieutenant General
Battles/wars	War of the Pyrenees War of the Oranges Peninsular War

Bernardim Freire de Andrade (Lisbon, 18 February 1759 – Braga, 17 March 1809), was a Portuguese Army general officer who was assigned to command the forces of the Porto Junta in 1808 during the Peninsular War. The commander of the British invasion force, Sir Arthur Wellesley complained that it was difficult to cooperate with Freire. In March 1809, Freire commanded an army composed mostly of unruly militia which was opposed to Marshal Nicolas Soult's army of professional French soldiers. Freire understood that his poorly trained men stood little chance against the French but he was afraid to order a retreat because he feared for his life. When he tried to leave the army, he was arrested and put in the Braga jail. Soon afterward, a group of militiamen broke into the jail and murdered him. On 20 March, Soult's army attacked and inflicted terrible losses on the Portuguese in the Battle of Braga.

Promotions and Units

Rank	Unit	Date
Lieutenant General		2 October 1808
Commandant Chief	Army of Operations in Estremadura	22 July 1808
Field Marshal		25 February 1807
Governor of Weapons	Porto Party	25 February 1807
Brigadier		25 January 1795
Colonel	13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche	17 December 1794
Lieutenant Colonel	13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche	24 September 1791
Major	13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche	27 April 1790
Captain	5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche	27 February 1787
Lieutenant	5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche	9 October 1782
Ensign	5th Company, 13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche	25 April 1782
Cadet	13th Infantry Regiment of Peniche