Franklin Gomes Souto
Encyclopedia
Franklin Gomes Souto (Alegrete
1844 - Rosário do Sul
1915) was a Brazil
ian lawyer
, politician
and abolitionist.
Souto earned a degree from the Law School of São Paulo
in 1865. Back to his hometown of Alegrete
, State of Rio Grande do Sul
, he represented, pro bono
, dozens of slaves pleading for freedom in Brazilian courts. He was one of the first abolitionists to successfully claim that, under the Brazilian Slave Traffic Prohibition Law of 1831, all slaves travelling to Uruguay
were immediately free upon their return to Brazil. After the proclamation of the Brazilian Republic in 1889, Souto was elected City Councillor of Alegrete
.
Alegrete
Alegrete is a town and a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul located in southern Brazil. Its medium altitude is 102 m. Its estimated population in 2008 was 78,984 inhabitants and the total area is 7,803.967 km² . Its inhabitants are called Alegretenses.Alegrete was settled in 1816 and became a...
1844 - Rosário do Sul
Rosário do Sul
Rosário do Sul is a small Brazilian town in the southwestern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It has a population of 40,645 . Its elevation is 151 m. It has an area of 2,530.9 km². It is located 385 km west of the state capital of Porto Alegre. The nicknames of the city are Rosul and Rosário...
1915) was a Brazil
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 lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and abolitionist.
Souto earned a degree from the Law School of São Paulo
Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo
Faculty of Law of the University of São Paulo is an institution of higher education and research in the field of Law located in São Paulo, Brazil...
in 1865. Back to his hometown of Alegrete
Alegrete
Alegrete is a town and a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul located in southern Brazil. Its medium altitude is 102 m. Its estimated population in 2008 was 78,984 inhabitants and the total area is 7,803.967 km² . Its inhabitants are called Alegretenses.Alegrete was settled in 1816 and became a...
, State 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...
, he represented, pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
, dozens of slaves pleading for freedom in Brazilian courts. He was one of the first abolitionists to successfully claim that, under the Brazilian Slave Traffic Prohibition Law of 1831, all slaves travelling to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
were immediately free upon their return to Brazil. After the proclamation of the Brazilian Republic in 1889, Souto was elected City Councillor of Alegrete
Alegrete
Alegrete is a town and a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul located in southern Brazil. Its medium altitude is 102 m. Its estimated population in 2008 was 78,984 inhabitants and the total area is 7,803.967 km² . Its inhabitants are called Alegretenses.Alegrete was settled in 1816 and became a...
.