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Lauro Müller | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 14 February 1912 – 7 May 1917 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Hermes da Fonseca Venceslau Brás | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Baron of Rio Branco | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Nilo Peçanha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (1863-11-08)8 November 1863 Itajaí,Santa Catarina, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 30 June 1926(1926-06-30) (aged 62) Rio de Janeiro,Federal District, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lauro Severiano Müller (8 November 1863 – 30 July 1926) was a Brazilian politician, diplomat, and military engineer. Responsible for the transition ofSanta Catarina from a province to a state, he is also recognised as one of those who helped achieve the Brazilian diplomatic victory overBolivia through theTreaty of Petrópolis, which allowed for the purchase ofAcre and its incorporation into Brazil.
Müller occupied the 34th chair of theBrazilian Academy of Letters from 1912 until his death in 1926.
Born in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, he was the son of theGerman immigrants Peter Müller and Anna Michels, originally from theRhineland. On his mother's side, his first cousin wasFilipe Schmidt, who also served two terms as President of Santa Catarina. A passionate follower ofBenjamin Constant's positivism in his youth, he embarked on a military career in his native province after a brief stint in a merchant's office.
His political career began in 1889, when the firstPresident of Brazil,Deodoro da Fonseca, made him President of Santa Catarina and charged him with organising the province that had been transformed into astate.
Later, he served as a federal deputy, senator (1899–1926), member of theAcademy of Letters (1912–1926), and minister of state. He carried out great reforms while holding the ministerial portfolios of Industry, Transport and Public Works, during the presidency ofRodrigues Alves. As Minister of Foreign Affairs a post he assumed in 1912 upon the untimely death of theBarão do Rio Branco, he pursued economic integration withArgentina andChile. He was forced to resign in 1917 because Brazil had enteredWorld War I on the side of theAllies, and anti-German sentiment created opposition to him due to his German roots. He was elected President of Santa Catarina again in 1918, but preferred to remain a senator.
During an official visit to the U.S. as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was offered the title ofDoctor Honoris Causa byHarvard University. He was also made an honorary samurai on an official visit to Japan.
The positions he held in his long political career include:Member of the Constitutional AssemblyMember of CongressGovernor of the StateMinister of Public WorksGeneral of the ArmyMinister of Foreign AffairsSenator of the Republic
He became popular for his important public works, such as the construction ofRio de Janeiro's Avenida Central, todayAvenida Rio Branco, and improvements to that city's port. He died in Rio in 1926.
| Preceded by Augusto Fausto de Sousa (last Imperial governor) | President of Santa Catarina 1889 — 1891 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of Santa Catarina 1902 — 1906 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by |  Brazilian Academy of Letters - Occupant of the 34th chair 1912 — 1926 | Succeeded by |
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