José António Marques was the son of António Emídio Marques and Catarina da Assunção Marques. At 20, he finished his studies in medicine at the Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de Lisboa (Medicine and Surgery College of Lisbon). In 1842, by a decree of August of the same year, he was nominated assistant-surgeon and assigned to the 3rd Chasseur Battalion (Batalhão de Caçadores n.º 3). He rose through several levels of the military, being, in 1851, promoted to the position of Squad Surgeon.
He distinguished himself, not only in his military life, where he played important roles on the Repartição de Saúde do Estado Maior General on the War Ministry, but equally as a journalist, having been one of the collaborators of a highly scientific publication, O Jornal dos Facultativos Militares. Escholiaste Médico, and on his civilian medical career.
In August 1864, by nomination of King Luis I, he represented Portugal at the International Conference in Geneva, to discuss the neutralization, in times of war, "of ambulances and hospitals, as well as healthcare personnel, rescuers and wounded people".
Portugal, through Marques, was one of the twelve countries that signed the First Geneva Convention on 22 August 1864, destined to give a better chance to military staff wounded in battle.
Back in Portugal, Marques organized, on 11 February 1865, the "Comissão Portuguesa de Socorros a Feridos e Doentes Militares em Tempo de Guerra", the former designation of the Portuguese Red Cross.
A. Bordalo Sanches, "Isentos de Franquia de Portugal.", Section 2. 1. 1 – Da Sede da Instituição em Lisboa (in Portuguese), archived from the original on 2007-09-16, retrieved 2007-12-20