Afonso Pena

Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena (Portuguese: [aˈfõsu awˈɡustu moˈrejrɐ ˈpenɐ]; 30 November 1847 – 14 June 1909) was a Brazilian politician who served as the sixth president of Brazil between 1906 and 1909. Before his political career, Pena had been an attorney and legal scholar.[1] He was the first president to die in office.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Moreira and the second or paternal family name is Pena.
His Excellency
Afonso Pena
Official portrait, 1906
President of Brazil
In office
15 November 1906 – 14 June 1909
Vice PresidentNilo Peçanha
Preceded byRodrigues Alves
Succeeded byNilo Peçanha
Vice President of Brazil
In office
25 June 1903 – 15 November 1906
PresidentRodrigues Alves
Preceded byRosa e Silva
Succeeded byNilo Peçanha
Other offices held
1900–1902President of the Belo Horizonte Deliberative Council
1900–1902State Senator of Minas Gerais
1895–1898President of the Bank of Brazil
1892–1894President of Minas Gerais
1891–1891State Senator of Minas Gerais
1885–1885Minister of Justice
1884–1884Minister of War
1883–1884Minister of Agriculture and Transport
1882–1882Minister of War (interim)
1882–1882Minister of the Navy (interim)
1878–1889General Deputy for Minas Gerais
1874–1878Provincial Deputy of Minas Gerais
Personal details
Born(1847-11-30)30 November 1847
Santa Bárbara, Minas Gerais, Empire of Brazil
Died14 June 1909(1909-06-14) (aged 61)
Catete Palace, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Political partyConservative Party (1874–1889)
Mineiro Republican Party (1889–1909)
Spouse(s)
Maria Guilhermina de Oliveira
​
​
(m. 1875⁠–⁠1909)​
; his death
Children12
Alma materUniversity of São Paulo
Signature

Pena began his political career in 1874 with an election to the Imperial General Assembly. In the succeeding years, Pena reconciled legislative work with some periods occupying secretariats—secretary of Agriculture (1882), Commerce and Public Issues (1883) and Justice (1885). As president of the provincial assembly of Minas Gerais, Pena inaugurated the new capital Belo Horizonte.

After the proclamation of the Republic, he was governor of Minas Gerais between 1892 and 1894. It was during his administration that Belo Horizonte was set for the future state capital (which at that time was Ouro Preto). He ran in the presidential election of 1894, but lost by a large margin to Prudente de Morais.

In 1902 Pena became Vice President to Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves. As Vice President, he also served as the President of the Senate.[2] He was elected president in 1906 and served until his death in 1909, a few days after the passing of his son Álvaro Pena.

Afonso Pena was the first Brazilian president to advocate intervening in the coffee economy. The federal government started to buy production surplus, thus maintaining the high price of coffee in international markets. Pena also promoted the expansion of railroads.

The reorganization of the Brazilian army was done by Hermes da Fonseca during the Pena administration. The president also supported Cândido Rondon's expeditions in the Amazon Rainforest.

  • Painting of President Pena by Rodolfo Amoedo
  • Bust of Afonso Pena in the hall of the UFMG School of Law in Belo Horizonte, which he was one of the founders.
  • Press criticizing the young personnel of Pena's cabinet

References
  1. Afonso Pena - BrasilEscola (in Portuguese)
  2. "República Velha (1889 - 1930) - Senado Federal". www25.senado.leg.br.
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