SOUZA, Thome de, first governor-general of Brazil, born in Souza, Beira, early in the 16th century; died in Lisbon about 1560. In the hereditary captaincies that had been established in Brazil abuses soon became general, so that King John III., on 7 January, 1549, ordered the organization of a general government, abolishing the extraordinary privileges that he had granted to the captains. For the execution of this difficult and important work the royal choice fell upon Thome de Souza, a natural son of one of the first families, a prudent and enlightened officer and statesman, who had achieved renown in the wars of Africa and India. He sailed from Lisbon on 2 February, 1549, with a squadron of six vessels, having on board six hundred volunteers, four hundred pardoned convicts, several families as colonists, some artillery officers, engineers, mechanics, and six Jesuits under the lead of Father Manoel da Nobrega. On 29 March he entered the harbor of Todos os Santos. The aged Diogo Alvares Caramuru (see PARAGUASSU) hastened to welcome the governor-general, and his allies, the Tupinambas, offered their services. There Souza founded a city, naming it Sao Salvador, which was afterward changed to Bahia a todos os Santos. The assistance that he received from the Tupinambas hastened the progress of building, and soon the cathedral, the governor's palace, a Jesuit college, and one hundred houses had been completed. He organized the administration by appointing a chief justice and other authorities. The colony flourished under Souza's prudent administration, and numerous emigrants arrived, founding new villages. In 1551 a bishopric was established in Bahia, with jurisdiction over the whole Portuguese colony. Souza, weakened by the fatigues of his responsible office, solicited relief, and on 13 July, 1553, his successor, Duarte da Costa, arrived, to whom he delivered the government and sailed for Portugal.