Rodrigo Augusto da Silva | |
|---|---|
 Silva,c. 1887–89 | |
| Senator of the Empire of Brazil forSão Paulo Province | |
| In office 10 August 1888 – Life tenure | |
| Monarch | Pedro II |
| Preceded by | João da Silva Carrão |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1833-12-07)7 December 1833 São Paulo,Empire of Brazil |
| Died | 17 October 1889(1889-10-17) (aged 55) Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil |
| Political party | Conservative Party |
| Spouse | Catharina de Queirós Mattoso Ribeiro |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Signature |  |
Rodrigo Augusto da Silva (7 December 1833 — 17 October 1889), nicknamed "the diplomat",[1] was a politician, diplomat, lawyer, monarchist and journalist of theEmpire of Brazil. He is best known as the minister that authored and countersigned withPrincess Isabel, then Princess Imperial Regent the law that endedslavery in Brazil. Rodrigo was born inSão Paulo into a family of wealthy financiers. His father, theBaron of Tietê, was also a politician and leader of the conservative party in São Paulo.
Rodrigo became a deputy in theChamber of Deputies of Brazil when he was 24 years old and served a total of seven terms representing the province of São Paulo. He later served as President of the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo,cabinet minister in two conservative governments andsenator of the empire. Even though he died relatively young his career lasted over 30 years. In his first year as a deputy and throughout his career he defended policies to increaseimmigration from Europe, industrialization of the empire, improvement of infrastructure, modernization of the financial system and access to credit for theagricultural sector.
Rodrigo Augusto da Silva was born on 7 December 1833, in the imperial city of São Paulo,[2] capital of theprovince of São Paulo. He was the son ofJosé Manuel da Silva and Maria Reducinda da Cunha e Silva.[3] He had one older brother named Candido Justiniano and two sisters, named Raphaela and Joaquina Angelica.[4][5] Rodrigo was the paternal grandson of José da Silva de Carvalho, a municipal judge and commanding officer of thePortuguese ordinances inSanto Amaro.[6] Rodrigo's grandfather was a wealthy land owner andcapitalist that acted as aprivate mortgage lender.[7] Rodrigo's father followed his father's steps and got involved in commerce and finance in the city of São Paulo.[8][3] In his banking career José Manuel became president of the São Paulo branch of theBank of Brazil and theCaixa Econômica.[9] As a leader of the moderate party, later conservative party, José Manuel was part of the government of São Paulo in the years after theIndependence of Brazil, serving in different positions in the municipal and provincial governments.[10]
Rodrigo attended theLargo de São Francisco Law School where he graduated with aBachelor of Laws degree in 1856.[11] In law school he was a member of asecret society calledBrasilica.[12] This society was founded by law students and had as its main objective the strengthening of conservative ideas.[13] The society counted among the initiated political figures connected to Rodrigo and the conservative party, among them Antonio da Silva Prado, Thomas Coelho and Delfino Cintra.[12] According to a biographer, in his academic years Rodrigo "revealed a lucid and easy intelligence, firmness of character, unbreakable dedication, clear vision and noble political ideas."[14] Rodrigo spoke and wrote notoriously well, had a passion forclassical literature and knew how to dress with great elegance.[11] These characteristics would later afford him the nickname "the diplomat".[note 2] While still a student in 1856 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo, he finished his senior year and occupied a seat in the Legislative Assembly at the same time. In 1857 he moved to Rio de Janeiro to occupy a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo was a permanent substitute and represented the 1st district of São Paulo.[14] In Rio de Janeiro he married Catharina de Queirós Mattoso Ribeiro, daughter of conservative leaderEusébio de Queirós.[15] Catharina would die during the birth of Maria Custodia, the couple's only child.
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In 1885 conflict among different interest groups created a crisis in the Liberal government.[16][note 1]
After months of suffering Rodrigo died surrounded by his friends, among them writerMachado de Assis. His death caused wide commotion in the empire. Rodrigo's funeral was watched by members of the government, theabolitionist movement and leaders of the black community.Official mourning was declared and the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Public works; the Senate; the Chamber of Deputies; and the Postal Service were closed.
TheNew York Times published the following regarding his death on the 24 November 1889:
We have to record the death of another prominent man in Brazilian politics, that of Counselor Rodrigo Augusto da Silva, which took place at his residence in this city (Rio de Janeiro), at 8:30 P.M. on the 17th inst. He was a prominent and popular member of the Conservative party, a native of Sao Paulo, which province he represented in the Senate, and had twice occupied positions in the Imperial Cabinet. He was Minister of Agriculture in the Joao Alfredo Cabinet which passed the abolition law of 1888, and was still in the prime of life.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)| Preceded by | Minister of Agriculture,Commerce and Public Works 05/10/1887 to 06/27/1888 | Succeeded by Antônio da Silva Prado |
| Preceded by Antônio da Silva Prado | Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Public Works 01/05/1889 to 06/07/1889 | Succeeded by Lourenço Cavalcanti de Albuquerque |
| Preceded by Antônio da Silva Prado | Minister of External RelationsAd Interim May of 1888 | Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - | Minister of External Relations 06/27/1888 to 06/07/1889 | Succeeded by José Francisco Diana |
| Preceded by Bento Francisco de Paula Souza | President of theLegislative Assembly of São Paulo 02/15/1886 to 01/17/1887 | Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - | President of the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo 01/17/1887 to 01/10/1888 | Succeeded by Antonio da Silva Prado |
| Preceded by | Majority Leader of theChamber of Deputies of the Empire of Brazil 1886 | Succeeded by |
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