Antônio Vicente da Fontoura
Encyclopedia
Antônio Vicente da Fontoura (June 16, 1807 – September 11, 1860) was a Brazil
ian statesman
. He was one of the main leaders of the Riograndense Republic during the War of the Farrapos (1835–45) and the chief-negotiator of the Peace Agreement with the Empire of Brazil.
to Eusébio Antônio Gonçalves, a Portuguese
land surveyor, and to Vicência Cândida da Fontoura, member of a pioneer family
of Rio Grande do Sul
, Brazil's southernmost state. He moved to the neighboring town of Cachoeira do Sul
as a teenager and started his own retail business in the late 1820s. His involvement in politics started at age 24, when he was elected city Councillor
of Cachoeira do Sul
.
As a businessman linked to the ranching interests of Southern Brazil, Fontoura was a fierce critic of the economic policies of the Brazilian central government, which favored the commodity exporting zones of the country to the detriment of the domestic-oriented economy of Rio Grande do Sul
. At the same time, as a freemason and reader of liberal philosophers, Fontoura had an ingrained antipathy towards the monarchical
regime of Brazil.
At the onset of the Farroupilha Revolution, on September 20, 1835, Fontoura joined the rebels and took over the command of the state militia in Rio Pardo
and Cachoeira do Sul
. He was appointed Minister of Finance of the Riograndense Republic in 1841. Elected to the Constitutional Assembly
of 1842–43, he progressively became the leader of an opposition party to the main military commander of the uprising, Bento Gonçalves da Silva
. In spite of his Republican ideals, Fontoura was not a supporter of the independence of Rio Grande do Sul
at any cost. As the war evolved, he got convinced that a diplomatic effort would be preferable to a military escalation of the conflict, which would damage even further the state economy.
, then capital of the Brazilian Empire, he managed to negotiate an agreement that allowed a peaceful and honorable reintegration of Rio Grande do Sul
into Brazil. While in Rio, notwithstanding his appeasement attitude, Fontoura refused to kiss the hand of Emperor Peter II, stating that he was "not yet a Brazilian subject".
Signed on March 1, 1845, the Peace Agreement of Ponche Verde granted amnesty to the Republican leaders, provided a financial compensation for Rio Grande do Sul
and assured the emancipation of all African slaves serving in the Riograndense Army.
, as leader of the Liberal Party, and to his retail business. On the local election day of September 8, 1860, he was stabbed at a political rally and died three days later.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
. He was one of the main leaders of the Riograndense Republic during the War of the Farrapos (1835–45) and the chief-negotiator of the Peace Agreement with the Empire of Brazil.
Background
Fontoura was born on June 16, 1807 in the city of Rio PardoRio Pardo
For the Brazilian tribe, see Rio Pardo Rio Pardo is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Its coordinates are . The population in 2004 was 37,395, the area is 2187.5 km² The elevation is 41 m....
to Eusébio Antônio Gonçalves, a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
land surveyor, and to Vicência Cândida da Fontoura, member of a pioneer family
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
, Brazil's southernmost state. He moved to the neighboring town of Cachoeira do Sul
Cachoeira do Sul
Cachoeira do Sul is a municipality of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.It is located at a latitude of 30º02'21" S and a longitude of 52º53'38" W, at an approximate height of 68 meters over sea level. Its population in 2004 was approximately 89120 and its surface area is 3715.5 square...
as a teenager and started his own retail business in the late 1820s. His involvement in politics started at age 24, when he was elected city Councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
of Cachoeira do Sul
Cachoeira do Sul
Cachoeira do Sul is a municipality of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.It is located at a latitude of 30º02'21" S and a longitude of 52º53'38" W, at an approximate height of 68 meters over sea level. Its population in 2004 was approximately 89120 and its surface area is 3715.5 square...
.
War of the Farrapos (1835–45)
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
. At the same time, as a freemason and reader of liberal philosophers, Fontoura had an ingrained antipathy towards the monarchical
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
regime of Brazil.
At the onset of the Farroupilha Revolution, on September 20, 1835, Fontoura joined the rebels and took over the command of the state militia in Rio Pardo
Rio Pardo
For the Brazilian tribe, see Rio Pardo Rio Pardo is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Its coordinates are . The population in 2004 was 37,395, the area is 2187.5 km² The elevation is 41 m....
and Cachoeira do Sul
Cachoeira do Sul
Cachoeira do Sul is a municipality of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.It is located at a latitude of 30º02'21" S and a longitude of 52º53'38" W, at an approximate height of 68 meters over sea level. Its population in 2004 was approximately 89120 and its surface area is 3715.5 square...
. He was appointed Minister of Finance of the Riograndense Republic in 1841. Elected to the Constitutional Assembly
Constitutional Assembly
The Constitutional Assembly was a body elected in 1955 to draw up a permanent constitution for the Republic of Indonesia. It sat between November 10, 1956 and July 2, 1959...
of 1842–43, he progressively became the leader of an opposition party to the main military commander of the uprising, Bento Gonçalves da Silva
Bento Gonçalves da Silva
General Bento Gonçalves da Silva, , was a Tatter Revolutionary leader and President of the Piratini Republic ....
. In spite of his Republican ideals, Fontoura was not a supporter of the independence of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
at any cost. As the war evolved, he got convinced that a diplomatic effort would be preferable to a military escalation of the conflict, which would damage even further the state economy.
Chief-negotiator of the Peace of Ponche Verde
In late 1844, all rebel leaders rallied behind Fontoura and chose him as chief-negotiator of the talks with the Brazilian central government. Sent to Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, then capital of the Brazilian Empire, he managed to negotiate an agreement that allowed a peaceful and honorable reintegration of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
into Brazil. While in Rio, notwithstanding his appeasement attitude, Fontoura refused to kiss the hand of Emperor Peter II, stating that he was "not yet a Brazilian subject".
Signed on March 1, 1845, the Peace Agreement of Ponche Verde granted amnesty to the Republican leaders, provided a financial compensation for Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
and assured the emancipation of all African slaves serving in the Riograndense Army.
Late years
After the end of the war, Fontoura went back to the politics of Cachoeira do SulCachoeira do Sul
Cachoeira do Sul is a municipality of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.It is located at a latitude of 30º02'21" S and a longitude of 52º53'38" W, at an approximate height of 68 meters over sea level. Its population in 2004 was approximately 89120 and its surface area is 3715.5 square...
, as leader of the Liberal Party, and to his retail business. On the local election day of September 8, 1860, he was stabbed at a political rally and died three days later.