O Século was first published on 4 January 1881.[1] The founder was Sebastião de Magalhães Lima,[1] who had studied law at the University of Coimbra. It was a newspaper of record, and a great rival of the Diário de Notícias.
O Século was owned by the Sociedade Nacional de Tipografia before the Carnation Revolution in 1974.[2] The paper ceased publication on 3 February 1977.[1]