after being asked by the royal family, he allowed the establishment of a hospital to treat british sailors during the war against napoleon.

later in the same century the island would be acquired by the navy which established there its naval school.

the 'ilha das enxadas' also saw brazil enter the modern age of warfare when the naval aviation school was established there, in 1916.

unfortunately the installations were somewhat small, allowing for just two hangars and a ramp to bring ashore the small flying boats it used.