Almeida was born in
Rio de Janeiro, to
lieutenant Antônio de Almeida and Josefina Maria de Almeida. Few things are known about his years of primary studies — although he entered at the Medicine course in 1849, graduating in 1855. Financial difficulties inspired him to dedicate himself to literature and journalism. His
magnum opus,
Memoirs of a Police Sergeant (or, in Portuguese,
Memórias de um Sargento de Milícias), was initially published in
feuilleton form during the years 1852-1853, in the journal
Correio Mercantil. In 1858, he became the administrator of Tipografia Nacional, where he met
Machado de Assis. Trying to enter in the political career, he would go to the city of
Campos dos Goytacazes, embarking in the ship
Hermes, in order to start his political research. However, the ship
wrecked off near the shores of
Macaé, and he died in the disaster. ==Works==