| Honorific-Prefix: | His Excellency |
| The Duke of Saldanha | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | GCSMOM GCC GCTS GSJS GCICVV FC |
| Monarch1: | Luís I |
| Office1: | Prime Minister of Portugal |
| Predecessor1: | Duke of Loulé |
| Successor1: | Marquis of Sá da Bandeira |
| Term Start1: | 19 May 1870 |
| Term End1: | 29 August 1870 |
| Monarch2: | Maria II and Fernando II |
| Predecessor2: | Duke of Terceira |
| Successor2: | Duke of Loulé |
| Term Start2: | 1 May 1851 |
| Term End2: | 6 June 1856 |
| Monarch3: | Maria II and Fernando II |
| Predecessor3: | Duke of Palmela |
| Successor3: | Marquess of Tomar |
| Term Start3: | 6 October 1846 |
| Term End3: | 18 June 1849 |
| Monarch4: | Maria II |
| Predecessor4: | Count of Linhares |
| Successor4: | José Jorge Loureiro |
| Term Start4: | 27 May 1835 |
| Term End4: | 18 November 1835 |
| Monarch5: | João VI |
| Office5: | President of the Rio Grande do Sul Province |
| Successor5: | Viscount of São Gabriel |
| Term Start5: | 22 February 1822 |
| Term End5: | 29 August 1822 |
| Monarch6: | João VI |
| Office6: | Captain-General of the Rio Grande do Sul Province |
| Predecessor6: | Antônio Rodrigues da Costa |
| Term Start6: | 20 August 1821 |
| Term End6: | 22 February 1822 |
| Birth Date: | 17 November 1790 |
| Birth Place: | Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal |
| Death Place: | London, United Kingdom |
| Signature: | AssinaturaSaldanha.svg |
João Carlos Gregório Domingos Vicente Francisco de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun, 1st Duke of Saldanha (17 November 1790 – 20 November 1876; pronounced as /pt/) was a Portuguese marshal and statesman.
Saldanha was born on 17 November 1790, in Azinhaga. He was a grandson of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, the Secretary of the State of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves to King Joseph I of Portugal.
Saldanha studied at Coimbra, served against the French, and was made a prisoner in 1810. On his release he went to Brazil, where he was employed in the military and diplomatic services. He returned to Portugal after the declaration of the independence of Brazil.
The Duke of Saldanha, as he is commonly known, was one of the most dominating personalities of war and politics in Portugal, from the revolution of 1820 to his death in 1876. During that period he led no less than seven coups d'état. He played an important part in the struggle between brothers Pedro IV of Portugal (I of Brazil) and Miguel of Portugal during the Liberal Wars.
Saldanha became Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1825 and was governor of Porto in 1826–27. He joined Dom Pedro against the usurper Dom Miguel. He fought in the Belfastada, the Siege of Porto and Battle of Almoster. In 1833, he was rewarded with the title of Marshal of Portugal and one year later, he concluded the Concession of Evoramonte with the defeated usurper Dom Miguel.
In 1835 he was made Minister of War and President of the Council but resigned the same year. After the revolution of 1836, which he had instigated he went into exile until recalled in 1846.
After his return from exile in 1846 Saldanha was made Duke of Saldanha, and formed a Ministry which fell in 1849. In 1851 he organized a new revolt and became chief Minister as the leader of a coalition party formed of Septembrists and dissatisfied Chartists. He remained in power until the accession of Pedro V. in 1856. and was subsequently Minister to Rome (1862–64 and 1866–69). He became Prime Minister once more for a few months in 1870 (May–August), and was sent in 1871 to London as Ambassador, where he died.
Terence Hughes wrote a character sketch of Saldanha in 1846:
Saldanha was an accomplished linguist (he spoke English, French, and German with perfect fluency) and a general scholar. He wrote On the Connexion between true Sciences and Revealed Religion which was published in Berlin.
Saldanha had a son who died in Berlin in 1845.
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