Pedro V, King of Portugal was the oldest son of
Queen Maria da Gloria and her King-Consort
Ferdinand II[?]. Pedro was an unusually conscientious and hard-working monarch who, under the guidance of his father, sought radical modernisation of the Portuguese state and infrastructure. Under Pedro's reign roads, telegraphs and railways were constructed and improvements in public health advanced. However, this was unable to save the life of the young king who died (along with his brother Ferdinand) of cholera on
November 11,
1861. The throne passed to Pedro's much-less able brother
D. Luis.