Antero de Quental was born in Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores. His family was among the oldest families of the provincial captaincy system. His father was Fernando de Quental (10 May 1814 - 7 March 1873), a veteran of the Portuguese Liberal Wars who took part in the Landing of Mindelo. Antero's mother was Ana Guilhermina da Maia (16 July 1811 - 28 November 1876), a devout relative of Frei Bartolomeu de Quental, founder of the Congregation of the Oratory in Portugal.