Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca
Encyclopedia
Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca (ˈɛɾmis roˈdriɡis da fõˈsekɐ; May 12, 1855 – September 9, 1923) 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. In 1910, he was elected as the 8th president of Brazil
, serving until 1914.
He was on an official visit to Portugal
when the revolution
that overthrew the Portuguese monarchy and replaced it with a new republican
regime took place.
and served in the Brazilian armed forces; as part of his service, he was transferred to São Gabriel
. Hermes was born in there in 1855. When his father was sent to the War of the Triple Alliance
, the family returned to Rio de Janeiro
.
, a promoter of the ideas of Auguste Comte
in Brazil. When he graduated, he served as aide-de-camp
to Gaston, comte d'Eu
.
He was a supporter of the republic proclaimed by his uncle Deodoro da Fonseca
and was invited by the latter to be camp assistant and military secretary after the coup. During the Revolta da Armada
(1893) he proved his worth in the command of the defense of Floriano Peixoto
's government. He headed the Police Brigade of Rio de Janeiro from 1899 to 1904, when he assumed command of the Military Academy of Realengo.
As commander of the Academy he fought against the Vaccine Revolt
. He was promoted to Marshal
. He performed various jobs until becoming Minister of War during Campos Sales.
He continued in that position during the next president, Afonso Pena, and reformed the army and the ministry with the creation of technical and administrative services. Of these innovations, the most important was the institution of obligatory military service
. He resigned due to the discussion in Congress about the participation of soldiers in politics of Brazil. He was later a minister of the Supreme Federal Court (Brazil)
and all states other than São Paulo and Bahia.
For the first time in republican history, there was an actual campaign with the "civilista" campaign running in open election against Hermes da Fonseca.
Once elected, he traveled to Europe, where he was witness to the fall of monarchy in Portugal.
. Renegotiation of Brazil's National debt meant a second funding loan was set up.
, but refused to take the position because of the assassination of Pinheiro Machado in September 1915. He traveled to Europe, returning to Brazil after living in Switzerland for six years, when a new presidential campaign was underway.
He was welcomed by the military men and assumed the presidency of the Military Club in 1921. In this post, he was involved in the 18 of the Copacabana Fort revolt
, which started at Fort Copacabana
.
See also: List of Presidents of Brazil
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. The nephew of Deodoro da Fonseca
Deodoro da Fonseca
Marshal Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca became the first president of the Republic of Brazil after heading a military coup that deposed Emperor Pedro II and proclaimed the Republic in 1889, disestablishing the Empire of Brazil.- Biography :...
, the first Brazilian President, he was the country's Minister of War in 1906. In 1910, he was elected as the 8th president of 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...
, serving until 1914.
He was on an official visit to Portugal
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...
when the revolution
5 October 1910 revolution
The revolution of 1910 was a republican coup d'état that occurred in Portugal on 5 October 1910, which deposed King Manuel II and established the Portuguese First Republic....
that overthrew the Portuguese monarchy and replaced it with a new republican
Portuguese First Republic
The Portuguese First Republic spans a complex 16 year period in the history of Portugal, between the end of the period of constitutional monarchy marked by the 5 October 1910 revolution and the 28 May coup d'état of 1926...
regime took place.
Biography
His father was from AlagoasAlagoas
Alagoas is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil and is situated in the eastern part of the Northeast Region. It borders: Pernambuco ; Sergipe ; Bahia ; and the Atlantic Ocean . It occupies an area of 27,767 km², being slightly larger than Haiti...
and served in the Brazilian armed forces; as part of his service, he was transferred to São Gabriel
São Gabriel
São Gabriel is a municipality in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.It's the birthplace of the Field Marshal Mascarenhas de Morais and Baron of Candiota.- Paleontology :This city belongs to the geopark of Paleorrota....
. Hermes was born in there in 1855. When his father was sent to the War of the Triple Alliance
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
, the family returned to Rio de Janeiro
Rio 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...
.
Military career
In 1871, at 16, he got his bachelor's degree in Science and Letters and enrolled in the Military Academy, where he was student of Benjamin ConstantBenjamin Constant
Henri-Benjamin Constant de Rebecque was a Swiss-born French nobleman, thinker, writer and politician.-Biography:...
, a promoter of the ideas of Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
in Brazil. When he graduated, he served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Gaston, comte d'Eu
Gaston, comte d'Eu
Gaston d'Orléans , the first son of Louis, the Duke of Nemours and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Kohary. His full name was Louis Philippe Marie Ferdinand Gaston d'Orléans; Portuguese: Luís Filipe Maria Fernando Gastão de Orleães...
.
He was a supporter of the republic proclaimed by his uncle Deodoro da Fonseca
Deodoro da Fonseca
Marshal Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca became the first president of the Republic of Brazil after heading a military coup that deposed Emperor Pedro II and proclaimed the Republic in 1889, disestablishing the Empire of Brazil.- Biography :...
and was invited by the latter to be camp assistant and military secretary after the coup. During the Revolta da Armada
Revolta da Armada
Brazilian Naval Revolts, or the Revoltas da Armada , were armed mutinies promoted mainly by Admirals Custodio de Mello and Saldanha da Gama and their fleet of Brazilian Navy ships against unconstitucional attitudes of the then the central government in Rio de Janeiro.-First revolt:In November 1891,...
(1893) he proved his worth in the command of the defense of Floriano Peixoto
Floriano Peixoto
Floriano Vieira de Araújo Peixoto , April 30, 1839, Maceió, Brazil — July 29, 1895, Rio de Janeiro; born in Ipioca , was a Brazilian soldier and politician, a veteran of the War of the Triple Alliance, and the second President of Brazil.-Election and Succession as President:Floriano Peixoto...
's government. He headed the Police Brigade of Rio de Janeiro from 1899 to 1904, when he assumed command of the Military Academy of Realengo.
As commander of the Academy he fought against the Vaccine Revolt
Vaccine Revolt
The Vaccine Revolt, or Vaccine Rebellion, was a period of civil disorder which occurred in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 10 through 16, 1904.-Antecedents:...
. He was promoted to Marshal
Marshal (Brazil)
Marshal is the highest rank in both the Brazilian Army and the Brazilian Air Force, although the latter is titled Marechal-do-Ar . These ranks are equivalent to that of Admiral in the Navy...
. He performed various jobs until becoming Minister of War during Campos Sales.
He continued in that position during the next president, Afonso Pena, and reformed the army and the ministry with the creation of technical and administrative services. Of these innovations, the most important was the institution of obligatory military service
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
. He resigned due to the discussion in Congress about the participation of soldiers in politics of Brazil. He was later a minister of the Supreme Federal Court (Brazil)
1910 Elections
In November 1908, he was pointed to for the succession. Counting with the support of Nilo PeçanhaNilo Peçanha
Nilo Procópio Peçanha was a Brazilian politician. Governor of Rio de Janeiro State . Elected vice-president in 1906, he assumed the presidency in 1909 following the death of President Afonso Pena and served until 1910...
and all states other than São Paulo and Bahia.
For the first time in republican history, there was an actual campaign with the "civilista" campaign running in open election against Hermes da Fonseca.
Once elected, he traveled to Europe, where he was witness to the fall of monarchy in Portugal.
Presidency
Among the events of his presidency were the Chibata Revolt and the Contestado WarContestado War
The Contestado War , broadly speaking, was a guerrilla war for land between settlers and landowners, the latter supported by the Brazilian state's police and military forces, that lasted from October 1912 to August 1916....
. Renegotiation of Brazil's National debt meant a second funding loan was set up.
Post 1914
After leaving the presidency, in November 1914, he ran for the senate for Rio Grande do SulRio 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...
, but refused to take the position because of the assassination of Pinheiro Machado in September 1915. He traveled to Europe, returning to Brazil after living in Switzerland for six years, when a new presidential campaign was underway.
He was welcomed by the military men and assumed the presidency of the Military Club in 1921. In this post, he was involved in the 18 of the Copacabana Fort revolt
18 of the Copacabana Fort revolt
The 18 of the Copacabana Fort revolt happened on July 5, 1922, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, then Federal District of Brazil. It was the first revolt of the tenentista movement, in the context of the Brazilian Old Republic.- Tenentismo :...
, which started at Fort Copacabana
Fort Copacabana
Fort Copacabana is a military base at the south end of the beach that defines the district of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro...
.
See also: List of Presidents of Brazil