António José de Almeida

Educated at a Coimbra lyceum; studied medicine at the University of Coimbra and graduated in 1895; was active in anti-monarchist movement and published (1890) an article (Bragança, o último) targeted against the king of Portugal; spent three months in prison; practiced medicine in Angola and Sao Tome (1896-1903) and Paris (1903); joined the republican movement and was one of the most eloquent orators; elected to the Câmara dos Senhores Deputados (1906-1910) as a representative of Lisbon; was involved in abortive republican coup and subsequently imprisoned (1908); as a leader of moderate wing of the Partido Republicano Português (Portuguese Republican Party), joined the Provisional Government of Joaquim Teófilo Braga as minister of the interior (5 Oct 1910 - 3 Sep 1911); founded the magazine República (1911); split with the republicans and founded (1912) the Partido Republicano Evolucionista (Evolutionist Republican Party); appointed President of the Ministry and minister of colonies (15 Mar 1916 - 25 Apr 1917); in this government he also served briefly as interim finance minister (twice) and interim minister of public education; a leader of the Partido Liberal Republicano (Republican Liberal Party), which appeared as a result of the merger (1919) of the Republican Evolutionist Party and the União Republicana (Republican Union) and won parliamentary elections in 1919; elected President of the Republic (6 Aug 1919), serving from 5 Oct 1919 to 5 Oct 1923; endured a long period of political instability, including a number of revolts and the assassination of President of the Ministry António Joaquim Granjo (died 20 Nov 1920); traveled to Brazil (17 Aug 1922 - 27 Sep 1922) to celebrate the centennial of Brazilian independence; after the expiration of his term as President, he continued to cooperate with República. Biography source: [3] [4]