Venceslau Brás Pereira Gomes (26 February 1868 – 15 May 1966) was a Brazilian
politician
A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...
who served as the ninth
president of Brazil
The president of Brazil (), officially the president of the Federative Republic of Brazil () or simply the ''President of the Republic'', is the head of state and head of government of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the ...
between 1914 and 1918, during the
First Brazilian Republic. Brás was born in
Brasópolis (formerly São Caetano da Vargem Grande),
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
State. He became governor of that state in 1909, and in 1910 he was elected vice-president under
Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca. As the sixth
vice president of Brazil
The vice president of Brazil (), officially the vice president of the Federative Republic of Brazil (''Vice-Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil''), or simply the ''vice president of the republic'' (''Vice-Presidente da República'') i ...
, he also served as the
President of the Senate
President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the Speaker (politics), speaker in some other assemblies.
The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's Order of succession, succes ...
.
He was elected president in 1914 and served until 1918. His government declared war on the
Central Powers
The Central Powers, also known as the Central Empires,; ; , ; were one of the two main coalitions that fought in World War I (1914–1918). It consisted of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulga ...
in October 1917 during
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. He was the longest-lived Brazilian president, reaching 98 years of age.
Spelling of name
Throughout his life Brás spelled his name ''Wenceslau Braz'', although there exist postage stamps with the spelling ''Wenceslao'' as well. The 1943
reform of Portuguese orthography stipulates that the names of deceased persons must be spelled according to standard Portuguese spelling rules. All Portuguese-language texts about Brás published after 1966 must therefore spell his name ''Venceslau Brás''.
Legacy
*
Presidente Venceslau, a municipality in the state of São Paulo
Venceslau Brás e seu ministério.jpg, President Venceslau Brás and his cabinet in 1915: Marshal José Caetano de Faria (War), Augusto Tavares de Lima
Augusto is an Italian language, Italian, Portuguese language, Portuguese, and Spanish language, Spanish given name or surname.
Derived from Augustus, meaning in Latin "majestic," "the increaser," or "venerable", it is notable as being the name of t ...
(Transportation), Lauro Müller (Foreign Affairs) and Admiral Alexandrino Faria de Alencar (Navy). Around him, senators, congressmen and journalists.
Venceslau Brás declara guerra 1917.jpg, President Brás signs a declaration of war against the Central Powers
The Central Powers, also known as the Central Empires,; ; , ; were one of the two main coalitions that fought in World War I (1914–1918). It consisted of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulga ...
in October 1917. At his side, the former president and then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nilo Peçanha, and the governor of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
and future president of the Republic, Delfim Moreira.
Venceslau Brás Pereira Gomes, ex-presidente da República.tif, Former president Brás in 1961
See also
Brazil during World War I
Notes
References
External links
* Rafael Pinheiro de Araujo
Brás, Venceslau in
1868 births
1966 deaths
Presidents of Brazil
Vice presidents of Brazil
Presidents of the Federal Senate (Brazil)
University of São Paulo alumni
Mayors of Belo Horizonte
Governors of Minas Gerais
Republican Party of Minas Gerais politicians
Coffee with milk politics politicians
Candidates for Vice President of Brazil
People from Brasópolis
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