Political economist and dramatist; born in Lisbon of Marano parents. He attended the University of Madrid, and served for a number of years in the army, in which he became captain. Later he removed to Paris as Portuguese consul-general, returning to Lisbon about 1650. He was seized by the Inquisition and garroted in Lisbon (Dec. 1, 1652).
He wrote: "El Color Verde à la Divina Celia," a eulogy on the physician Fernando Alvarez Brandam, also a Portuguese Marano, Madrid, 1637; "El Politico Christianissimo: Discursos Politicos sobre Algunas Acciones de la Vida del . . . Duque de Richelieu" (the first edition of which appeared under the title "Epitome Genealogico del . . . Duque de Richelieu"), Pamplona, 1642; "El Principe Vendido e Venta del Inocente, y Libre Principe D. Duarte, Celebrada en Viana à 25 de Junio de 1642," Paris, 1643; "Anti-Caramuel ò Defensa del Manifesto del Reyna de Portugal à la Respuesta que Escrevio D. Juan Caramuel Lobkovitz," Paris, 1643; "Cinco Livros de Decada 12 da Historia da India," Paris. Fernandez's son José da Villa-Real was professor of the Greek language in Marseilles (1682).