What was the world like in 1833?

In 1833, the year in which Casa Carregosa was founded, the forerunner of Banco Carregosa, important changes took place that changed the world.

Here are some of the most important milestones. From Europe to Latin America, from science to art, travel with us to the past and discover what the world was like in 1833, the year of the foundation of Casa Carregosa, now celebrating its 190th anniversary. 

1. An account of the siege of Porto

The year in which Carregosa was founded saw some of the most terrifying moments of the siege of Porto. It was a historic moment in the life of the city. The liberals were in favour of a constitutional monarchy and the absolutists in favour of an absolute monarchical regime. The liberals under D. Pedro IV were inside the city, while the absolutists led by D. Miguel were outside the city walls. The battle went on for months, with the Liberals outnumbering their opponents and running low on food. However, they withstood the siege and maintained control of the city, the result being the consolidation of constitutional rule in Portugal.

2. Public museums were created in 1833

The creation of public museums in Portugal in 1833 was an important milestone in our cultural history. The Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis in Porto is considered the first public art museum in Portugal and houses a vast collection of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts from different periods and artistic styles. Since then, several others have followed, in order to preserve and make accessible the country's cultural and artistic heritage.

3. This was the year Alfred Nobel was born

Alfred Nobel was born in 1833 in Stockholm, Sweden. He showed an interest and talent for chemistry and engineering from an early age and was granted 355 patents during his lifetime. His most famous invention was dynamite, patented in 1867 and soon used worldwide. His most lasting legacy, however, is in the field of philanthropy through the creation of the Nobel Prize. Today, the prize is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious awards and a major contribution to the advancement of humanity.

4. Slavery Abolition Act

This was an historic piece of legislation passed by the British Parliament that led to the liberation of nearly 800,000 slaves from the British colonies. This movement had been in the making for decades, and on 28 August campaigners saw the fruits of their tireless work to abolish slavery. The Act provided for the gradual independence of slaves, who would first have to undergo a period of unpaid labour in exchange for board and lodging. The owners of slaves received financial compensation for the loss of their slaves, and the children born to slaves were already considered to be free. Although there were still serious limitations and inequalities in this act, it was essential in laying the final foundations for the abolition of slavery. 

5. The beginning of the end for child labour

In 1833, the Factory Act was passed, marking a major milestone in the fight against the widespread use of child labour in the textile industry. This law established a number of regulations to protect children and improve their working conditions, such as a minimum working age of 9 years, a limit of 9 hours of work per day (12 hours in the case of adolescents) and a minimum of 2 hours of education per day. Although the conditions were extremely precarious, children of all ages were often employed in hazardous activities. This Act was the first cornerstone for what is now, after many subsequent laws and social movements over the centuries, widely condemned and banned in most countries.

Carregosa, following the changes in the world since 1833

Every story has a beginning. Ours began in 1833. In 2023, Casa Carregosa celebrates 190 years of historic events and global challenges. We have witnessed wars and peace, crises and recoveries, technological advances and social revolutions. Our experience of dealing with challenging times shows that we are resilient and able to adapt to the fast moving world in which we live. The experience we have gained in the most challenging of times is the groundwork for meeting new challenges and achieving lasting success. We are always guided by our century-old values of independence, innovation, personalisation, transparency, and sustainability.