Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca

Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca graduated from a military school in Rio de Janeiro (1847). His military career began with the suppression of the Praiera Revolution in Pernambuco (1848-1849). Upon his return to Rio de Janeiro, he was promoted to captain. In 1856 Fonseca was again sent to Pernambuco and then to Mato Grosso. He fought in the Paraguayan War (1864-1870) attaining the rank of colonel. Promoted to brigadier (1874) and field marshal (1884), Fonseca served as a military commander of Rio Grande do Sul, where he also temporarily held the presidency of this province (1886). A founding member and president of the Military Club (1887), Marshal Deodoro was a leader of the Brazilian military, who staged a coup against Emperor Pedro II and proclaimed the Republic of the United States of Brazil (15 Nov 1889). Fonseca assumed the leadership of the Provisional Government, presiding over the election of the Constituent Congress (15 Sep 1890). Convened on 15 Nov 1890, the Congress promulgated a new constitution (24 Feb 1891) and elected Fonseca first president of the Republic (25 Feb 1891). The Fonseca government divided by political and personal animosity between the president and vice president Floriano Peixoto encountered a strong opposition within the Congress, which chose a policy of obstruction. Arbitrary presidential decrees including concession of the port of Torres to a private company had serious repercussion on the Congress and public opinion. The situation approached a climax when Fonseca dissolved the National Congress and declared the state of emergency (3 Nov 1891). A group of deputies opposed this decision and found support among the high-ranked officers of the Navy including Admiral Custódio José de Melo. The marshal found himself on the brink of a civil war threatening to engulf the nation. On 23 Nov 1891 he signed a resignation and turned over the presidency to Floriano Peixoto. [3] [4]