 António Silva was born to a humble family, one of many sons and daughters of Francisco Constantino Augusto da Silva (born December 19, 1849, Lisbon, Socorro), a frame gilder in Lisbon, who married Amélia das Dores (July 4, 1853, Lisbon, Lumiar, – April 4, 1936, Lisbon, São Jorge de Arroios).The family lived at Rua do Jasmim nr.5.