Delmiro Augusto da Cruz Gouveia was born on 5 June 1863, on the Boa Vista farm, in the area of Ipu, Ceará, the first child of Delmiro Porfírio de Farias and Leonilda Flora da Cruz Gouveia.

On 26 June 1765, Gervásio Pires Ferreira was born in the parish of São Frei Pedro Gonçalves, located in the province of Recife (now the city of Recife). Son of Portuguese parents, he was taken by them before turning twelve to study at Mafra College in Portugal.