José Maria Latino Coelho was a Brigadier-General in the Engineering Corps, Minister of the Navy, lecturer at the Polytechnic School, member of the General Council of Public Education, member of parliament, peer of the realm, journalist, and writer. He was born in Lisbon on 29 November 1825 and died in Sintra on 29 August 1891. His father, who also had a military background, held the rank of lieutenant colonel when he emigrated to Spain due to his liberal beliefs, only returning to settle in Lisbon in 1834.

Latino Coelho studied French, English, and the basics of mathematics and other exact sciences. In 1837, he began studying Latin at the Liceu Nacional de Lisboa [National Lyceum of Lisbon], and in 1838, he studied Logic and Greek. After completing his preparatory studies, he enrolled at a very young age in his first year at the Polytechnic School. He later transferred to the Army School, where he studied Military Engineering. On 14 November 1843, he enlisted in the 16th Infantry Regiment, and soon after, was promoted to ensign cadet within the same regiment. His subsequent promotions included ensign on 12 December 1848, to lieutenant on 14 July 1851, lieutenant on 29 May 1878, and brigadier-general on 19 September 1888. In 1851, while still a lieutenant, Latino Coelho was appointed substitute lecturer in Mineralogy and Geology at the Polytechnic School, following a successful examination. He also became involved in politics, joining the Regenerator Party and was elected as a member of parliament for Lisbon in the 1854 elections. He was re-elected multiple times (1857, 1860, 1862, among others) and was also elected as a Republican candidate in 1889 and 1890.

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