Miranda do Corvo, 15 August 1912 – Coimbra, 16 October 2003

Trustee of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation between 1958 and 1993, António Arruda Ferrer Correia served as its President between 1993 and 1998. During his mandate, he oversaw the Education and Study Grant services, the Museum, the José de Azeredo Perdigão Centre of Modern Art and ACARTE – the Animation, Artists Creation and Education through Art service, the Central services, the Working Relations and Touring Library /Library and Support for Reading Service.

A graduate and doctorate holder from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, where he was director and tenured professor from 1948 onwards, he lectured in this institution on Introduction to the Study of Law, Civil Law, Civil Processual Law, Commercial Law and International Private Law. He also lectured at the Faculté Internacionale de Droit Comparé and at the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Portugal and made an Honoris Causa Doctor by the universities of Aveiro, Santos and Federal of Rio de Janeiro.

A member of the Review Commission for the General Section of the Penal Code and President of the Review Commission for the Commercial Code, he was Rector and honorary rector, following his retirement, of the University of Coimbra, founder and president of the Interdisciplinary Centre of Juridical-Economic Studies, director of the Direito e Economia journal, president of Institut de Droit Internacional, a lawyer and juridical consultant.

He has been honoured with a series of national and international awards, including, the Grand-Cross of the Order of Merit of Italy, Grand-Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Grand-Cross of the Military Order of Christ, Grand-Cross of the Public Instruction Order, Grand-Cross of the Military Order of Sant’Iago da Espada, the Gold Medal of the City of Coimbra, the Medal of the Council of Miranda do Corvo. He was furthermore an Emeritus Member of the International Academy, an Honorary Member of the Lisbon Academy of Science and an Honorary Member of the Brazilian Bar Association.

He participated in dozens of congresses, giving speeches and conferences as well as authoring a vast bibliography in the field of law.