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Francisco Manuel da Silva was a pivotal Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and music educator of the Romantic period, best known for composing the melody that became the Brazilian National Anthem.Born in Rio de Janeiro, da Silva studied under José Maurício Nunes Garcia. He played cello in the Royal Chapel orchestra. After Brazilian independence, he became a central figure in Rio's musical life. He co-founded the Sociedade Beneficência Musical (1833) and the Imperial Academy of Music and National Opera (1841), later evolving into the Instituto Nacional de Música (now part of UFRJ's School of Music). He served as conductor of the Imperial Chapel. His enduring legacy is the 1831 composition that became the Brazilian National Anthem (Hino Nacional Brasileiro) in 1890.

• Da Silva composed the music that became the national anthem in 1831, originally titled 'Hino ao 7 de Abril', celebrating Emperor Pedro I's abdication. It gained immense popularity as a patriotic song.
• After the proclamation of the Republic in 1889, the new government held a competition for a new anthem. Public outcry led to da Silva's melody being retained as the official national anthem, with new lyrics by Osório Duque-Estrada replacing the monarchist ones.
• Despite being a key figure in establishing formal music education in Brazil, da Silva faced financial struggles throughout his life, common for musicians of his era reliant on court or church patronage.