Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena
Encyclopedia
Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena (aˈfõsu awˈɡustu moˈrejrɐ ˈpenɐ; 1847–1909) was a Brazilian politician
, and president
between 1906 and 1909. Before his political career, Pena was a lawyer, jurist and member of the Brazilian Supreme Court
.
He 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). Pena then presided over the provincial assembly of Minas Gerais.
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 future state capital (which at that time was Ouro Preto
).
In 1902 Pena became vice-president to Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves
. 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 Rodrigues da Fonseca
during the Pena administration. The president also supported Cândido Rondon
's expeditions in the Amazon Rainforest
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
between 1906 and 1909. Before his political career, Pena was a lawyer, jurist and member of the Brazilian Supreme Court
Supreme Federal Tribunal
The Supreme Federal Court is the supreme court of Brazil, serving primarily as the Constitutional Court of the country. It is the highest court of law in Brazil for constitutional issues and its rulings cannot be appealed...
.
He 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). Pena then presided over the provincial assembly of Minas Gerais.
After the proclamation of the Republic, he was governor of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
between 1892 and 1894. It was during his administration that Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
was set for future state capital (which at that time was Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto
-History:Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto was originally called Vila Rica, or "rich village," the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil's golden age in the 18th century under Portuguese rule....
).
In 1902 Pena became vice-president to Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves
Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves
Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, PC was a Brazilian politician who first served as governor of the State of São Paulo in 1887, and as Treasury minister in the 1890s. Rodrigues Alves was elected president of Brazil in 1902 and served until 1906....
. 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
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
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
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
.
The reorganization of the Brazilian army was done by Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca
Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca
Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca was a Brazilian soldier and politician. The nephew of Deodoro da Fonseca, the first Brazilian President, he was the country's Minister of War in 1906...
during the Pena administration. The president also supported Cândido Rondon
Cândido Rondon
Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, or Marechal Rondon was a Brazilian military officer who is most famous for his exploration of Mato Grosso and the Western Amazon Basin, and his lifelong support of Brazilian indigenous populations...
's expeditions in the Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
.