Enlightenment Science and Iconoclasm: The Brazilian Naturalist José Vieira Couto.

The article presents a profile of the career of the late 18th century Brazilian naturalist José Vieira Couto, highlighting how he used his position as an official expert for the Portuguese state to develop his own research and his social influence. Accounts are given describing how he was appointed to study the Minas Gerais region, how his geological research led to the better utilization if the region's gold and diamond supply, and how his technical expertise directly influenced the Portuguese economic empire of the period.