Nicolau Vincente de Mesquita and Avenida do Coronel Mesquita

The area occupied by Avenida do Coronel Mesquita used to be a part of Mong-Ha Village and Long Tin Village in the past. It is nowadays the main thoroughfare of Mong-Há district with many historical spots dotted along its way. After the assassination of Governor João Maria Ferreira do Amaral in August 1849, Vicente Nicolau de Mesquita, an officer of the Portuguese army in Macao, led a batch of Portuguese soldiers to attack the Baishaling Fort of the Chinese government lying beyond the Border Gate. Many Chinese soldiers were killed during the attack and the courageous Vicente Nicolau de Mesquita was promoted to colonel over time. In 1940, the Macao Portuguese government erected a bronze statue of Vicente Nicolau de Mesquita at Senado Square in his commemoration. But it was pulled down by rioters during the “1-2-3 Incident” of 1966. Over the Macao Peninsula, many streets were named after him, like Avenida do Coronel Mesquita, Beco do Coronel Mesquita, Pátio do Coronel Mesquita, Rua do Coronel Mesquita and Travessa do Coronel Mesquita. As for Taipa, there is the Estrada Coronel Nicolau de Mesquita.