Epitácio Pessoa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Epitácio Pessoa
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Official portrait, 1919
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| President of Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 28 July 1919 – 14 November 1922 |
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| Vice President | Delfim Moreira (1919–1920) None (Jul–Nov 1920) Bueno de Paiva (2020–2022) |
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| Preceded by | Delfim Moreira | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Artur Bernardes | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 23 May 1865 Umbuzeiro, Paraíba, Empire of Brazil |
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| Died | 13 February 1942 (aged 76) Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
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| Political party | PRM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouses |
Francisca Justina das Chagas
(m. 1894; died 1895)Maria da Conceição de Manso Sayão
(m. 1898) |
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| Relations | João Pessoa (nephew) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Recife Law School | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  |
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Epitácio Lindolfo da Silva Pessoa (born May 23, 1865 – died February 13, 1942) was a Brazilian politician and judge. He became the 11th President of Brazil, serving from 1919 to 1922. He took office because the elected president, Rodrigues Alves, became ill and could not start his term. His time as president saw several military uprisings. These events eventually led to the Revolution of 1930, which changed Brazil's government.
Besides being president, Epitácio Pessoa held many important jobs. He was a Minister of Justice, a judge in the Supreme Federal Court, and the Attorney General. He also served as a Federal Deputy and a Senator for many years. Later, he led Brazil's team at the Treaty of Versailles and became a judge at the Permanent Court of International Justice.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Epitácio Pessoa was born in Umbuzeiro, a small town in Paraíba, Brazil. When he was only seven years old, both his parents died from smallpox. His uncle, Henrique de Lucena, who was the governor of Pernambuco, took him in and made sure he got an education.
Even though he grew up poor, Epitácio worked very hard. He earned a law degree from the Faculty of Law at the Federal University of Pernambuco. He later became a professor there. Eventually, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, a big city in Brazil.
Start of a Political Career
Epitácio Pessoa met Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, who was a very important leader. This meeting happened through his older brother, José. When Brazil became a republic, Epitácio was asked to be the secretary-general for Paraíba's first republican government.
From 1890 to 1891, he was a deputy in the group that wrote Brazil's new constitution. He was known for being a very talented speaker and a skilled legal expert, even at just 25 years old. During this time, he gave a famous speech about the president's duties. In 1894, he decided to leave politics for a short time because he disagreed with President Floriano Peixoto. He then married Maria da Conceição Manso Saião and traveled to Europe.
Return to Public Service
After returning to Brazil, Epitácio Pessoa became the Minister of Justice under President Campos Sales. During this time, he asked his former colleague, Clóvis Beviláqua, to write a new set of civil laws for Brazil. These laws were adopted in 1916.
After his time as Minister of Justice, Pessoa continued to serve in important roles. He was Minister of Transportation, a judge in the Supreme Federal Court, and the Attorney General of the Republic.
In 1911, he was elected as a senator for his home state of Paraíba. He then moved to Europe again, living there until 1914. When he came back to Brazil, he took on a role in checking the powers of government officials.
Role in World War I and Presidency
After World War I ended, Epitácio Pessoa was chosen to lead Brazil's team at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. This was a very important meeting to decide the peace terms after the war. Brazil's team worked to solve issues important to their country. They helped with the sale of Brazilian coffee stored in Europe and decided what to do with 70 German ships that Brazil had seized during the war.
Epitácio Pessoa was elected president of Brazil without even leaving France. This happened because the elected president, Rodrigues Alves, died before he could take office. Pessoa won against Ruy Barbosa in a special election. His election was a big deal because it showed a shift away from the "coffee with milk" political system, where power was usually shared between the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Even so, Pessoa still represented the interests of these powerful groups.
Some people believe that the leaders of Minas Gerais and São Paulo chose Pessoa because they wanted someone from outside their usual group. This idea is supported by the fact that Artur Bernardes, from Minas Gerais, was elected president right after Pessoa.
Presidency and Challenges
Brazil's financial situation had improved a lot during World War I. The country exported raw materials and grew its own industries. But after the war, Europe started rebuilding, and Brazil faced new challenges. There were many workers' strikes, and business owners wanted to regain control.
Epitácio Pessoa started a strict financial plan to deal with these issues. He also took out new loans to help Brazil's economy. For example, a loan was used to electrify a major railway, the Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil.
Pessoa's presidency was a difficult time for Brazil. There were military revolts, including the 18 of the Copacabana Fort revolt in 1922. There was also a scandal involving "false letters" that insulted the military. These events created a tense atmosphere as it was time to choose the next president. Young military officers, known as tenentes, were calling for big changes in politics.
The Crisis of the False Letters
In 1921, a newspaper called Correio de Manhã published letters. These letters were supposedly written by Artur Bernardes, who would later become president, and Raul Soares de Moura. The letters contained insults against the Armed Forces and Marshal Hermes da Fonseca. A group confirmed that the letters were real.
A year later, Bernardes won the presidential election. However, the Military Club and a politician named Borges de Medeiros asked for a special court to check if Bernardes' election was fair. The Federal Congress looked into the election results and said they were legitimate.
Key Achievements as President
Here are some of the most important things Epitácio Pessoa did as president:
- He oversaw the building of over 200 dams in Brazil's Northeast region. This was a huge project to help with droughts.
- He helped create the University of Rio de Janeiro.
- He celebrated Brazil's first 100 years of independence.
- The first radio station in Brazil opened during his term.
- He changed Brazil's money standard from the pound to the dollar.
- He helped build over 1,000 kilometers of railroads in southern Brazil.
- He appointed a civilian, Pandiá Calógeras, as Minister of War. This was unusual at the time.
- He defeated the 18 of the Fort of Copacabana Revolt.
- He ended the law that had banned the Brazilian Imperial Family from living in Brazil.
Later Life and Legacy
After his presidency, Epitácio Pessoa was elected as a judge for the Permanent Court of International Justice in The Hague. He served there until 1930. From 1924 until the Revolution of 1930, he was also a senator for Paraíba. He supported the 1930 revolution, as it aimed for changes that earlier army revolts had wanted.
The assassination of his nephew, João Pessoa, was a very sad event for Epitácio. After this, he mostly retired from public life. By 1937, his health began to decline. He developed Parkinson's disease and had serious heart problems. Epitácio Pessoa passed away on February 13, 1942, in Petrópolis. In 1965, his remains and those of his wife were moved to João Pessoa, Paraíba, for reburial.
Images for kids
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Epitácio Pessoa's signature
See also
- List of presidents of Brazil
