Joaquim Manuel de Macedo | |
|---|---|
 A photograph of Joaquim Manuel de Macedo dating from his later life | |
| Born | (1820-06-24)24 June 1820 |
| Died | 11 April 1882(1882-04-11) (aged 61) Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil |
| Occupation | novelist,medician,poet,teacher,playwright,journalist |
| Literary movement | Romanticism |
| Notable works | |
| Spouse | Maria Catarina de Abreu Sodré |
Joaquim Manuel de Macedo (June 24, 1820 – April 11, 1882) was a Brazilian novelist, medical doctor, teacher, poet, playwright and journalist, famous for the romanceA Moreninha.[1] He is considered the first Brazilian novelist.[2]
He is the patron of the 20th chair of theBrazilian Academy of Letters.[3]
Joaquim Manuel de Macedo was born in the city ofItaboraí, in 1820, to Severino de Macedo Carvalho and Benigna Catarina da Conceição. He graduated inMedicine in 1844, and started to practice it in the inlands of Rio. In the same year, he published his romanceA Moreninha. In 1849, he founded the magazineGuanabara, along withManuel de Araújo Porto-Alegre andGonçalves Dias. In this magazine, many parts of his lengthy poemA Nebulosa were published.
Returning to Rio, he abandoned Medicine and became a teacher ofHistory andGeography at theColégio Pedro II. He was very linked to theBrazilian Imperial Family, even becoming a tutor forPrincess Isabel's children. He was also a provincial deputy and a general deputy, and a member of theBrazilian Historic and Geographic Institute.
During his last years of life, he suffered mental disturbances. These made his health worse and led to his death on April 11, 1882.
He was married to Maria Catarina de Abreu Sodré, a cousin of poetÁlvares de Azevedo. Some historians say that the titular character of his novelA Moreninha was based on her.
| Preceded by New creation |  Brazilian Academy of Letters -Patron of the 20th chair | Succeeded by Salvador de Mendonça (founder) |
