In 1808, following the French invasion of Portugal, he was named part of the patriotic Junta that was established to administer the Minho region while the Council of Regency was not re-established in Lisbon. In 1820, as the Liberal Revolution erupted in the city of Porto, calling for a constitutional monarchy and the return of King John VI from Brazil, Francisco de São Luís was called to be part of the revolutionary and its successor, the named by the elected General and Extraordinary Cortes.