Why
José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva Is the Greatest Man in Brazilian
History
Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
I don't
understand why on June 13, it's not a national holiday in Brazil to
commemorate Jose Bonifacio's birthday. Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e
Silva was born on June 13, 1763. In June 2013, Brazil is celebrating
the 250th anniversary of the birth date of the greatest
man in Brazilian history.
I had to read a
lot of material during the process of writing my book “José
Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva - The
Greatest Man in Brazilian History” since
there is a long list of books written in the last 200 years that
discuss Jose Bonifacio in one way or another.
I have read a lot material about Jose Bonifacio's life including the period during the French Revolution, an important and influential time on Jose Bonifacio’s intellectual development. As a result, I have a better understanding and appreciation of Jose Bonifacio’s accomplishments and its impact on Brazilian history than most people.
The independence of Brazil didn't happen by accident: Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva was fully prepared to take charge and guide Brazil to a smoother transition than the one that he had seen in France during the French Revolution.
I have read a lot material about Jose Bonifacio's life including the period during the French Revolution, an important and influential time on Jose Bonifacio’s intellectual development. As a result, I have a better understanding and appreciation of Jose Bonifacio’s accomplishments and its impact on Brazilian history than most people.
The independence of Brazil didn't happen by accident: Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva was fully prepared to take charge and guide Brazil to a smoother transition than the one that he had seen in France during the French Revolution.
The process of the independence of Brazil didn't happen just by chance. José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva was thoroughly intellectually prepared to guide Brazil with his leadership and superior intellect through that very important turning point in Brazilian history.
Why is José Bonifácio so important to
Brazilian history? José Bonifácio, the architect of Brazilian
independence, is known as "The Patriarch of Independence".
José Bonifácio was the source who gave the orientation, the form,
the doctrine, the guidance, the intellect, and strategy, the
combination of which resulted in the liberty and unity of the new
Brazilian nation. Without José Bonifácio Brazil in its current form
would not exist today.
Here is a summary of the 36 years that Jose
Bonifacio spent in Europe (1783 to 1819) preparing himself for the
extraordinary job that he accomplished during the process of
Brazilian independence.Sebastiao José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal
Pombal's regime may be divided into four phases: 1)1750-1760, devoted to government and mercantile reforms; 2)1760-1763, dealing primarily with the military challenge of the last phase of the Seven Years' War and the colonial struggle with Spain; 3)1764-1770, facing a commercial and fiscal crisis, devoted to mercantile and tax reforms; and 4)1770-1777, concerned mainly with educational reform and the stimulation of domestic manufactures.
Pombal, who had served in diplomatic posts in England and Austria, was shocked at Portugal's economic backwardness. He tried strenuously to steer the nation from its apathy. He tried to give them a spark to bring it into the currents of contemporary Europe.
Pombal's
reforms reached into many areas including the reorganization of the
ancient University of Coimbra in 1772. Pombal brought
Enlightenment period thought to Coimbra and recruited the best
professors available in Portugal and elsewhere in Europe at this time
to accomplish this goal. Some faculty were resistant to the new
reforms. The new ideas took root, and they could not stop the new
influence from the English and French Enlightenment thoughts.
Pombal
abolished slavery in metropolitan Portugal in 1773, ending the import
of slaves for household service and the cultivation of estates.
Equally notable were the educational reforms of the l770s. In 1772,
the curriculum and organization of the University of Coimbra was
modernized for the first time in two and a half centuries,
introducing more study of the natural and physical sciences. A series
of new schools for the upper and middle classes were established,
with greater emphasis on education in the vernacular. During the
second half of the century there was an increase in middle-class
literacy and in the production of trained clerical and administrative
personnel, but the peasantry and urban lower classes remained almost
completely untouched, and had if anything an even lower literacy
level than in Spain. Moreover, Pombal suppressed discussion of the
liberal political ideas of the English and French Enlightenment and
established a government censorship board in 1768.
Two
People who had a major impact on José Bonifácio's life
1)
Duke of Lafões
The
Second Duke of Lafões, Dom Joäo Carlos de Bragança de Souza Ligne
Tavares Mascarenhas da Silva (born March 6, 1719 - died November 10,
1806) He was 87 years old at the time of his death.
The
Duke of Lafões was a cousin of Queen Maria I (queen of Portugal from
1777 to 1816.) He was the most influential man in Portugal in the
1780's. He was also a nephew of Dom Joäo V (king of Portugal from
1706 to 1750.)
His uncle Dom Joäo V decided that the Duke of Lafões should follow a career in religion, and the Duke was assigned to study canonical law at Coimbra University. Later, the Duke decided not to follow a career in the church.
When
the Duke's older brother died, Dom Joäo V also had died, and the new
king was Dom José I (king of Portugal from 1750 to 1777). During Dom
José I's reign, the real governmental power was in the hands of
Sebastiäo José de Carvalho, the Marquis of Pombal.
After
the death of the Duke of Lafões' older brother, King Dom José I and
the Marquis of Pombal refused to let the Duke of Lafões transfer his
brother's title and properties to himself.
Unhappy with this situation, he resolved to go for a long trip. The Cortes gave him permission and he went on a long trip from 1757 to 1779. On this trip he visited Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, Egypt, Frigia, Lidia, Mesopotamia, Sweden, Poland, Laponia, Prussia, Denmark, and some other locations.
He
returned to Portugal only two years after Dom José I's death, and
the Marquis of Pombal was no longer in power. His cousin Queen Maria
I immediately gave the Duke of Lafões his title and properties. The
Duke of Lafões never got even with the Marquis of Pombal because
deep down he admired him.
When
the Duke of Lafões returned to Portugal after his long 22 year trip,
he had acquired a vast culture. The Duke recognized that Portugal
needed extensive and profound reforms. To develop these
reforms, he created the Royal Academy of Science in Lisbon, and he
became its president perpetuo.
The Duke of Lafões also was a "Mason". He was very influential in the "Grande Oriente de Lisboa", "Grand Orient of Lisbon" as well as in the "Grand Orient of London".
José
Bonifácio was a distant relative of the Duke of Lafões: they refer
to each other as cousins. What caught the Duke's attention was José
Bonifácio's outstanding performance at Coimbra University as a
student. The Duke of Lafões already had recognized José Bonifácio's
great intellectual capacity in 1783, and he was very fond of him.
The
Duke of Lafões was instrumental in the decision of the Portuguese
government to choose José Bonifácio to be commissioned to go on a
scientific journey throughout Europe for a period of ten years (1790
- 1800).
Since
José Bonifácio started studying at Coimbra University in 1783, he
frequented a circle of the most notable men in Portugal at that time.
Among this special group of influential men, José Bonifácio caught
the attention of another important figure, Dom Rodrigo Domingos de
Souza Coutinho Teixeira de Andrada Barbosa, the future Count of
Linhares.
2)
Count of Linhares
Dom
Rodrigo Domingos de Souza Coutinho Teixeira de Andrada Barbosa (Count
of Linhares) was
Minister
of the Navy in Portugal and a very influential government official
when José Bonifácio returned to Portugal at the end of 1800.
The
Count of Linhares was a great admirer of José Bonifácio. He
recognized his superior intellect and scientific abilities. He was
responsible for many of the government nominations and
responsibilities which were given to José Bonifácio in Portugal
from 1801 to 1808.
The
Count of Linhares went to Brazil with the Portuguese Royal Family in
1808 because of the French invasion of Portugal. He died in Brazil in
1812. He was poisoned by his political enemies.
Being
a protege of these two very powerful men helped José Bonifácio's
career in Portugal, but in the end, it was José Bonifácio's
outstanding performance that helped him build his reputation as a
scientist, scholar, and as a statesman.
José
Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (The Patriarch of the
Independence)
José
Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (The Patriarch of Brazilian
Independence) was born on June 13, 1763 in Santos, Province of Säo
Paulo, Brazil.
José Bonifácio
completed his basic studies in Santos, Brazil. In 1783, when
he was twenty years old, he went to Lisbon, Portugal and started his
studies at the University of Coimbra where he studied mathematics,
philosophy, astronomy, and law.
When José Bonifácio arrived in 1783 in Portugal to study at Coimbra University, he found the University going through a period of major change. These changes had been ordered by the government of the Marquis de Pombal.
When José Bonifácio arrived in 1783 in Portugal to study at Coimbra University, he found the University going through a period of major change. These changes had been ordered by the government of the Marquis de Pombal.
He received his philosophy degree on
June 16, 1787 and his law degree on June 5, 1788 at the University of
Coimbra. José Bonifácio attended some of the best universities of
his time, and he visited many of the well-known universities and
scientific research centers of Europe. He also studied and did
research in the top universities in France, Germany, and Scandinavia.
José Bonifácio was completely fluent
in six languages and he understood eleven. He was fluent in
Portuguese, English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. He also
had complete command of Greek and Latin.
Because José Bonifácio considered himself to be deficient as a speaker, he studied, in depth, Cicero, Tito, Livio, Gibbon, Buffon, and Voltaire.
Because José Bonifácio considered himself to be deficient as a speaker, he studied, in depth, Cicero, Tito, Livio, Gibbon, Buffon, and Voltaire.
José
Bonifácio goes on a scientific journey throughout Europe for a
period of ten years
(1790
- 1800)
On February 18, 1790, Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva accepted an assignment from the Portuguese government which commissioned him to go on a scientific journey throughout Europe for a period of ten years.
The objective of this commission was to acquire, through these literary travels and philosophic explorations, the latest and most advanced knowledge in the fields of mineralogy and chemistry; and to further his knowledge in philosophy, and natural history, and to bring this knowledge back to the government of Portugal.
The first stop on his journey was Paris, France where he arrived on May 31, 1790 expecting to settle down to further his studies on chemistry and mineralogy.
Bonifacio’s circle of friends in
Paris included some of the intellectual elite of the French
Revolution including Chaptal, Fourcroy, Vauquelin, Lavoisier,
Condorcet, Abbe Sieyes, Comte de Mirabeau, and Maximilien
Robespierre.
Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva and the French Revolution
He was in Paris, in the period 1790 through 1792, and he was very interested in the debates of the Convention in Paris. He stayed in Paris until the proclamation of the French Republic in September 1792. During this period, he frequented a very exclusive group of powerful thinkers; some of them had influenced and played a major role in the French Revolution, and others were authorities in their fields of specialization.
The
Brazilian nation has reason to be proud of its intellectual roots:
its roots are connected to the French Revolution and its intellectual
minds. France was the major power in the world during that period of
time (1750-1815), and Paris was the major artistic, scientific, and
intellectual center of that time.
In 1801, England had its first census; the census officials estimated England's population at 8.3 million people compared with France, the largest population of any European country at 26 million people.
In 1801, England had its first census; the census officials estimated England's population at 8.3 million people compared with France, the largest population of any European country at 26 million people.
The
French Revolution had a major impact on world history; it changed the
world.
The French had a major impact on Brazilian culture and history; the greatest French influence on Brazilian culture came as a result of the French Revolution. José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva was studying in Paris at the Royal School of Mines in the years 1790-1792. He was studying under many world famous scientists of the time, including Nicolas Louis Vauquelin, Antonio Lourenço Jussie, Jean-Antoine Chaptal, Antoine François Fourcroy, and Antoine Laurent Lavoisier.
José Bonifácio got to know Lavoisier well because both of them were interested in geology. He also had a personal friendship with Vauquelin, Fourcroy and Chaptal and through them, he met their good friend, Maximilien Robespierre. These men had one thing in common: they were members of one of the most influential political clubs of the French Revolution: the Club Breton. Later, their members became known as the Jacobins. The Jacobin Club counted among its early members, the Comte de Mirabeau, Abbé Sieyès, Antoine Barnave, Jérôme Pétion, the Duc d'Aiguillon, and Maximilien Robespierre. José Bonifácio had direct exposure, during this period, to the best intellectual minds of that time who were having a major impact on the events of the French Revolution.
Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva used to go on a regular basis to observe the Constitutional Debate in Paris during the period June 1790 to September 1791 at the Constituent Assembly. Then he followed the debates at the Legislative Assembly which was the legislature of France from October 1, 1791 to September 20, 1792, when it was replaced by the National Convention, marking the formal beginning of the (First) Republic.
The
Legislative Assembly provided the focus of political debate
and revolutionary law-making between the periods of the National
Constituent Assembly and of the National Convention. And Jose
Bonifacio also participated of the meetings at the Jacobin Club, and
he became friends with the most influential thinkers of the French
Revolution. He became a friends with people such as, Condorcet, Abbe
Sieyes, the Comte de Mirabeau, and Robespierre to name a few.
By the way, Don Joao VI used to refer to José Bonifácio as: that “Jacobin”.
Francois Furet is considered to be the most outstanding historian of the French Revolution, and he mentioned in his book, “The French Revolution 1770–1814”, that if the historian wants to single out certain men among that cohort caught up in the tide of events, he can cite Abbé Sieyès, Comte de Mirabeau, and Maximilien Robespierre.
This is an outstanding book regarding the French Revolution, and Mr. Furet explains in detail, in the book, why he picked these three men as the most important figures of the French Revolution:
By the way, Don Joao VI used to refer to José Bonifácio as: that “Jacobin”.
Francois Furet is considered to be the most outstanding historian of the French Revolution, and he mentioned in his book, “The French Revolution 1770–1814”, that if the historian wants to single out certain men among that cohort caught up in the tide of events, he can cite Abbé Sieyès, Comte de Mirabeau, and Maximilien Robespierre.
This is an outstanding book regarding the French Revolution, and Mr. Furet explains in detail, in the book, why he picked these three men as the most important figures of the French Revolution:
Abbé Sieyès
“Abbé Sieyès, elected at the last moment by the Paris Third Estate, and the Comte de Mirabeau, spurned by his order but welcomed by the Third Estate of Aix-en-Provence – the thinker and the artist of the Revolution.
Abbé Sieyès was not the greatest man of action of the French Revolution, however, its most profound political thinker.
Sieyès was a priest. Born in Frejus into a modest bourgeois family which was hard put to it to establish its five children, he followed the usual ecclesiastical channels, without any special vocation but as an intellectually gifted child. Taken under the wing of the Jesuits,...where his teachers found nothing to remark on, apart from his 'sly' nature, but his insatiable appetite for books.
Ordained a priest in 1772, he had read everything about the philosophy of the Enlightenment, both French and English. The notes he made during those long years of study, preserved in the National Archives, show evidence of an unlimited intellectual appetite, somewhat undisciplined, ranging from literature to metaphysics, art and music, with an special passion for philosophy and political economy; Locke and the physiocrats were the writers whom he constantly read, reread, discussed, challenged, questioned.
Everything in the mechanism of
different societies interested the young Sieyès:
money, banking, labour, trade, production, property, sovereignty,
citizenship – everything, with the exception of history. The basis
of his thinking was political, in the widest sense of the word, and
conformed to the dominant trend of French Enlightenment philosophy:
it was a question of thinking of society in accordance with reason,
whereas it offered only the spectacle of unreason. From an early age
Sieyès was fanatical about public happiness.
Sieyès
laid down the foundations of a theory of representative government,
one torn from the start between the inalienable nature of the
nation's rights and the delegated sovereignty of its representatives.
Comte de Mirabeau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Marquis de
Condorcet
When José
Bonifácio returned to Brazil in 1819, he brought with him his
library - José Bonifácio's library was very valuable with over six
thousand volumes. In Brazil only the National Library, of which Dom
Joäo VI was the founder, was larger than José Bonifácio's library.
His library included all the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (June 28, 1712 - July 2, 1778), his favorite philosopher, which he read and reread many times. He also had all the writings of his second favorite philosopher, the Marquis de Condorcet.During the years that he lived in Paris, he associated himself with the revolutionary environment and his preference was the groups that believed in the philosophic ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and of Condorcet.
He also studied and learned the works of Machiavelli, Descartes, Montesquieu, and Voltaire. But Jean-Jacques Rousseau was José Bonifácio's favorite philosopher. Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy had a major impact on José Bonifácio. In Rousseau's "The Social Contract" the ideal form of government is the republic, in which the people have total power. Rousseau was the philosopher who had the greatest impact on his generation with his democratic ideology.
His library included all the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (June 28, 1712 - July 2, 1778), his favorite philosopher, which he read and reread many times. He also had all the writings of his second favorite philosopher, the Marquis de Condorcet.During the years that he lived in Paris, he associated himself with the revolutionary environment and his preference was the groups that believed in the philosophic ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and of Condorcet.
He also studied and learned the works of Machiavelli, Descartes, Montesquieu, and Voltaire. But Jean-Jacques Rousseau was José Bonifácio's favorite philosopher. Jean-Jacques Rousseau's philosophy had a major impact on José Bonifácio. In Rousseau's "The Social Contract" the ideal form of government is the republic, in which the people have total power. Rousseau was the philosopher who had the greatest impact on his generation with his democratic ideology.
Marie
Jean Antoine Nicolas de Caritat, Marquis de Condorcet (September 17,
1743 – March 28, 1794), known as Nicolas de Condorcet, was a
French philosopher, mathematician, and early political scientist.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, he advocated a liberal economy,
free and equal public education, constitutionalism, and equal rights
for women and people of all races. His ideas and writings were said
to embody the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment and rationalism, and
remain influential to this day.
Condorcet took a leading role when the
French Revolution swept France in 1789, hoping for a rationalist
reconstruction of society, and championed many liberal causes. As a
result, in 1791 he was elected as a Paris representative in the
Assembly, and then became the secretary of the Assembly. The
institution adopted Condorcet's design for state education system,
and he drafted a proposed Bourbon Constitution for the new France.
José
Bonifácio most likely met Cordorcet during this period, when he used
to go on a regular basis to see
the debate at the Legislative
Assembly
which was the legislature of France from October 1, 1791 to September
20, 1792.
Jose Bonifacio's intellectual perspective was very influenced with the teachings of Jean-Jacque Rousseau, and Condorcet, the hailed philosophers of the French Revolution, and through Jose Bonifacio this influence had a profound effect on the formation of the future nation of Brazil.
José Bonifácio traveled a lot around Europe during 1793-1800, but his favorite place was Paris and he stopped in Paris every time he had the chance. This decade (1790-1800) is the period that had the major influence on the formation of his intellectual, cultural, scientific, and political thoughts, which helped him in the fulfillment of his destiny as a great leader and statesman.
Regarding further French influence in Brazil, we can say that the Brazilian legal and judicial system is based on Roman law, and the Napoleonic Code.
When José Bonifácio lived for a period in London, England, he studied further the ideas of the English philosophers including Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, John Locke, and the economist Adam Smith, "The Wealth of Nations".
The World in the Early 1800's
To help put things in the right perspective, I want to make two important points. First, the journalist/historian James Burke in his television series about world history called Connections gave the viewer some interesting information. In one of the episodes, he mentioned that most people who lived up to the early 1800's, spent their entire lives never traveling farther than a 25 mile radius from the place where they were born. In other words, most people lived in a small and limited world.
Second, in 1822, the Brazilian population was estimated to be around 4.4 million people. Regarding this figure historians included only 696,000 native Brazilian indians, since Brazil is a very large country, we probably had at least another 2 million native Brazilian indians scattered around the country that weren't accounted for on these population estimates. The white population was around 2.0 million people, and only about 10 percent of them were literate or semi-literate. And very few people had an advanced education.
These points are important because they describe the world in which José Bonifácio was living from 1780 to 1838; where most people lived in this very limited world of 25 miles radius, and the great majority of people were illiterate or semi-literate.
Asia = 635 million people (65 %)
Europe = 203 million people (21 %)
Africa = 107 million people (11 %)
South America = 14 million people
(1.5%)
Mexico/Central America/Caribbean = 10
million people (1.5%)
North America = 7 million people (1 %)
North America = 7 million people (1 %)
Oceania = 2 million people
Total World population = 978 million
people (100 %)
Jose
Bonifacio was a scientist doing research in the leading edge of
science of his time
To
help put things in the right perspective again, I want to make two
important points. First, the journalist/historian James Burke in his
television series about world history called “Connections”, he
gave the viewer some interesting information. In one of the episodes,
he mentioned that mineralogists, and geologists in the early
1800's were considered superstars
of the time.
In
the world of 1800 scientists - the mineralogists and geologists -
such as Jose Bonifacio, were considered to be the superstars of their
world, in the same way that people such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs
are the superstars of our modern technology world today.
People
were fascinated by their knowledge in that field. With new
discoveries happening then, that field was considered to be the
cutting edge or the state-of-the-art in new knowledge. Some of these
scientists were invited to parties by the nobility as the guest of
honor, and the highlight of the evening was when they gave a little
speech on the subject. Some of them even took their collections of
rocks and minerals to show to a delighted audience.
It
is not known if Jose Bonifacio carried around his collection of rocks
and minerals, as some of his peers did. He was very proud of his
collection, and considered it to be among the best in the world.
From
1790 to 1800 Jose Bonifacio traveled extensively throughout Europe,
and witnessed first hand how different places, and different people,
were organized, and how their society operated.
Jose
Bonifacio arrived in France in 1790, to study at the Royal School of
Mines in Paris with such famous professors as Antoine Laurent
Lavoisier, Antoine Francois Fourcroy, Jean Antoine Chaptal, Abade
Hauy, Vauquelin and Antonio Lourenco Jussieu. He studied such
subjects as chemistry, botanic, and mineralogy.
When
Jose Bonifacio was studying in Paris, he already was frequenting the
scientific circles and presenting scientific papers to them. But his
scientific method of research was molded later in Freiberg.
Jose Bonifacio left France after the proclamation of the French Republic, in September 20, 1792, to move on to the next stop of his journey. He went to Freiberg, in the Saxony Kingdom, to study at the famous Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, the world’s first mining academy. He arrived in Freiberg around October 15, 1792, and started classes at Freiberg University.
The
Freiberg University had a very distinguished body of professors
including Lempe, Kholler, Klotzch, Freisleben and Lampadius, but what
gave Freiberg University its prestige and status was its famous
Master Abraham Gottlob Werner. Werner's fame as a great professor
brought students from all over the civilized world to Freiberg. It
was Werner's reputation that built Freiberg University from a
small
local seminary to an important scientific center.
The
Master Werner very seldom gave great reviews to his students. When
Jose Bonifacio finished a course given by Werner, he received an
outstanding review from Werner, and that gave Jose Bonifacio
immediate recognition in the scientific community. Whoever
understands the organization of the German university system can
appreciate the value of that document signed by Werner.
The
recognition by Werner that Jose Bonifacio was profoundly
knowledgeable in orictognosia and geognosia, two subjects about which
Werner was an authority, and the fact that Werner had recognized the
superior intellect and intelligence of Jose Bonifacio, also helped in
raising Jose Bonifacio's status in the scientific community. Thanks
to Werner, Jose Bonifacio's knowledge grew and took shape in the
scientific sector, and Werner guided him in the direction where
later, he would distinguish himself.
Jose
Bonifacio traveled and studied the mines throughout Europe during
this period (1794 to 1796). Then from 1796 to 1798 he studied the
mines in the Scandinavian countries; Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
During this period in the Scandinavian countries he did the original
scientific research, and made the discoveries which made him famous
in the fields of mineralogy, metallurgy, and geology.
He
discovered eight new minerals, and identified for the first time four
other minerals which were variations of minerals which already had
been identified.
Jose
Bonifacio named most of the minerals which he discovered with
scientific names, with the exception of one "Wernerite"
named in honor of the Master "Abraham Gottlob Werner".
When
Jose Bonifacio returned to Portugal, after his ten years of studies
abroad, he met his two brothers in Lisbon. His two brothers Antonio
Carlos and Martim Francisco had recently graduated from Coimbra
University with degrees in Law and Philosophy.
In November of 1800, Jose Bonifacio and Martim Francisco made a mineralogical trip in Portugal, and the results of their findings were reported to the government on a written report.
Martim
Francisco returned to Brazil in 1801, and as a general director of
Forest and Mines for the State of Sao Paulo, he made various
mineralogical trips. In 1803, he explored the Southern part of the
State of Sao Paulo. In 1804, he expanded his explorations to the
State of Parana all the way to Curitiba (Curitiba is the capital of
the State of Parana.)
Soon
after Jose Bonifacio returned to Brazil, he asked his brother Martim
Francisco if he would like to go on a mineralogical expedition, and
research the State of Sao Paulo as they had done in the past in
Portugal.
Martim Francisco had a similar education, tastes, and the curiosity regarding science and mineralogy which Jose Bonifacio had. Martim Francisco and Jose Bonifacio were very close friends; Martim Francisco worshiped his older brother Jose Bonifacio, and Jose Bonifacio had great admiration for his younger brother Martim Francisco. They truly enjoyed each other's company.
Martim Francisco had a similar education, tastes, and the curiosity regarding science and mineralogy which Jose Bonifacio had. Martim Francisco and Jose Bonifacio were very close friends; Martim Francisco worshiped his older brother Jose Bonifacio, and Jose Bonifacio had great admiration for his younger brother Martim Francisco. They truly enjoyed each other's company.
They
left for this trip on March 23,1820, and kept a very detailed diary
describing the state of agriculture, industry, and a detailed
description of the minerals which they found on this trip. They
arrived in the city of Sao Paulo on April 30, 1820 after traveling
approximately 300 miles.
Jose
Bonifacio published many scientific works in Portuguese, French,
German, and English. His works are scattered in Europe, and in
Brazil. Some of his works are documented at Coimbra University; other
works were presented to the various mineralogical, scientific, and
historic societies where he was a member in France, England, Germany,
Sweden, and Portugal.
Many
of his scientific works can be found in an English catalogue, edited
by the Royal Society of London, under the name "Catalogue of
Scientific Papers (1800 to 1862)". His papers are registered
under the name d'Andrada in the 1867 edition.
Some
of Jose Bonifacio's work can be found in the following book; "Obras
Cientificas, Politicas e Sociais de Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e
Silva" a reproduction compiled by Edgard de Cerqueira Falcao
(Three Volumes).
The
writings of Jose Bonifacio are not limited to political, social and
scientific writings. In 1825, when he was in exile in France, he
published a book of poetry. This book included poetry which he had
been writing over the years; since the days when he was a student at
Coimbra University.
Jose
Bonifacio had not only vast general knowledge, but also specialized
knowledge. He was outstanding regarding his culture and
erudition.
In March 4, 1789, José Bonifácio had been accepted as a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Lisbon.
In March 4, 1789, José Bonifácio had been accepted as a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Lisbon.
In
1812, he received a unanimous appointment as Secretary Perpetual of
the Royal Academy of Science of Lisbon.
In
1812, José Bonifácio suggested to a commission at the Royal Academy
of Science of Lisbon, that they should adopt the decimal metric
system, even though it had been a French invention.
By
1815, José Bonifácio had been the Secretary Perpetual of the Royal
Academy of Science in Lisbon, and he was a member of the following:
Royal Academy in Stockholm, Sweden, of the Research Society of Nature
of Berlin, of the Society Mineralogical of Iena, of the Geologic
Institute of London, Weneriana of Edimburg, and of the Natural
History and Philomathic of Paris.
This
article about Jose Bonifacio covers only his life without analyzing
his works and philosophy. To cover his works and philosophy would
take a collection of many volumes which is beyond the scope of this
article. There is a long list of books written
in the last 200 years that discuss Jose Bonifacio in one way or
another. These books cover a variety of subjects; some are
favorable to Jose Bonifacio, and others are critical of him for one
reason or another. Two things we have to keep in mind; the period in
which the particular book was written, and who wrote the book.
Jose
Bonifacio's position regarding; 1) Slavery, 2) the Native Brazilian
Indians, and 3) Agrarian Reform are well documented. These topics
served over the years as a target for criticism from his enemies and
other social commentators.
Jose
Bonifacio was a famous European scientist in his day, and was known
throughout Europe. When he left Portugal in 1819 to return to Brazil,
he was considered the greatest and most famous scientist in Portugal.
He arrived in Brazil in late 1819 with a reputation of being a famous
European scientist.
Jose Bonifacio Returns to Portugal
in 1800
After traveling extensively throughout Europe for ten years, and accomplishing his assignment with great success, he finally returned to Portugal. When he returned to Portugal at the end of 1800, he was a famous European scientist.
In Portugal, over the years, José Bonifácio accumulated responsibility after responsibility, but he was doing most of this work for free. He was never a burden to the state. He never complained to the state about his delayed salary.
His first job after returning to Portugal was to create a new doctoral degree program of metallurgy at Coimbra University.
In
May 1801, he was appointed General Superintendent of Mines and Metals
of the Kingdom, and member of the Tribunal of Mines. He was
responsible for the mint of the kingdom plus the mines and forests of
the Portuguese empire.
In July 1801, he was appointed as administrator responsible for coal mines and the foundry of casting metals of Figuero dos Vinhos and Avelar.
In
November 1801, he was appointed director of the Royal Laboratory in
Lisbon, and his main responsibility was to remodel the Royal
Laboratory, and create a new state-of-the-art research laboratory for
chemistry and for metallurgy.
In
March 1805, he was appointed chief judge at House of Port (Casa do
Pôrto). He did not receive any money for this position until 1819.
In
November 10, 1806, the Duke of Lafões, a major benefactor in José
Bonifácio's life, died in Portugal, he was 87 years old at the time
of his death.
In July 1807, he was appointed Superintendent of Rio Mondego and the Public Works of Coimbra.
The
accumulation of so many positions of responsibility over a short
period of time is an indication of his prestige, his competence, and
his capacity to carry a heavy load, and perform an outstanding job.
Even
though Portugal is a small country, it would be hard for anyone to be
a professor at Coimbra University, a Superintendent of Mines and
Metals, an administrator of the coal mines and foundry, a director of
the Royal Laboratory, responsible for the mint and forests of the
Portuguese empire, a judge at Casa do Pôrto, and a Superintendent of
Public Works in Coimbra, all at the same time.
José
Bonifácio was an idealist, and he believed in doing things for the
good of society. His goal was never to become rich or even to live in
comfort. He was a man of letters and science. His major goal was to
expand the ideas he learned during the days of the convention in
France, at the peak of the French Revolution.
French invasions of Portugal Period 1807 - 1811
The French Army invaded Portugal three times during the period 1807 to 1811. The first invasion in 1807, under the command of General Junot. The second invasion in 1809, under the command of Marshal Nicolau Soult, Duke of Dalmacia. And the third invasion in 1810, under the command of Marshal Andre Massena, Duke of Rivoli
In
November 30, 1807, under orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, General Junot
invaded Portugal. The day before the French invasion the Portuguese
Royal Family with about 4,000 nobles left Portugal to go to Brazil.
José
Bonifácio was asked to go, but he decided to stay in Portugal
because he knew that they would need his expertise in metallurgy and
chemistry in the war effort against the French forces.
On January 22, 1808, the refugee Portuguese Royal Family, and the Portuguese court, arrived in Salvador, Bahia, and soon after they left for Rio de Janeiro, where they stayed until April of 1821.
José Bonifácio began as a Major in 1808, but was promoted during the fight to Tenent-Colonel, and finally to Colonel. He fought under the army commander Marshal William Carr, Viscount of Beresford, who was replaced in August of 1808 by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington.
These
three French invasions of Portugal, were the training ground for the
Duke of Wellington which helped him in 1815 to defeat Napoleon in the
battle of Waterloo.
Jose Bonifacio was arrogant and fearless, and that combination made him a great commander under the Duke of Wellington, when they did beat the French armies on three different French invasions of Portugal from 1808 to 1811. And Jose Bonifacio received many honors during that time for his bravery during the battles, and some of the honors even mentioned that it was a miracle that he had survived these battles; because he was always one of the first people charging against the enemies on the front lines.
They have all
documented, and it is on the record about all these battles, and they
have documented how Jose Bonifacio came very close from getting
killed in battle a number of times; he earned many honors as a great
warrior. He was always in the frontlines, and was one of the first
ones to charge against the enemy, and he was an inspiration to his
battalion.
They had three French invasions of
Portugal, the first one in November 19, 1807, by General Andouche
Junot, and the day before the French forces reached Lisbon, the
Portuguese Royal Family with 4,000 nobles left Portugal to go to
Brazil.
On August 1, 1808, British forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington landed in Portugal, and they defeated Junot's army in two battles; the first at Rolica on August 17, 1808, and the second at Vimiero on August 21, 1808. The Duke of Wellington’s army with the Portuguese brigade defeated the French, and the French suffered over 2,000 casualties and the British about 700.
On March 1809, there was a second
French invasion under Marshall Nicolau Soult Duke of Dalmacia with
his 70,000 men. On March 20, 1809, in the Battle of Braga, the French
veterans butchered their adversaries. The outmatched Portuguese lost
4,000 killed and 400 captured. The French, who lost 40 killed and 160
wounded, also seized 17 Portuguese cannons.
On May12, 1809, the Duke of Wellington with his Portuguese allies surprised Marshall Nicolau Soult and his army at Porto. The French were sent flying out of town, abandoning guns, and supplies, as well as chests of gold. The French retreated for a second time into Spain.
In the battle for Porto, the French had lost around 300 killed or wounded, with almost as many again taken prisoner. More than 1,500 sick and wounded had been left in the city's hospitals, and some 70 guns had been abandoned. British losses amounted to just 123 killed, wounded or missing.
In August 1810, there was a third
French invasion, this time the French army was commanded by Marshall
Andrea Massena, Duke of Rivoli. Wellington thought very highly of
Massena, and he was considered to be one of the best French generals.
Wellington thought that only Napoleon himself was a better army
commander than Massena.
Massena had 65,000 men against the
British 25,000 men plus 25,000 Portuguese men. The day after the
battle on September 27, 1810, they counted 4,500 casualties for the
French, and 1,252 casualties equally divided between the British and
Portuguese.
On April 10, 1811, Wellington announced
that the French army had retreated to Spain for a third time, and in
the process the French had suffered heavy losses of over 25,000 men.
Period 1812 to 1819 in Portugal
Of
all the colonies in the Americas, Brazil was the only one to which a
European prince came to rule before independence. The presence of the
royal family set Brazil apart from the other American colonies
(French, English, Dutch and Spanish) in many ways, especially in
transforming it from a colony into the center of power in the
Portuguese empire.
Prince
Dom Joäo loved Brazil from the start, and he had factories built,
established a royal museum, a medical school, a botanical garden, a
new newspaper, and later established the Academy of Fine
Arts.
In
1815, Dom Joäo raised Brazil to the rank of kingdom, coequal to
Portugal. For Brazil this was a crucial step, and Brazilians were
determined never again to return to the status of a colony. After his
mother's death in 1816, Prince Regent Dom Joäo had his coronation in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and he became King Joäo VI.
On
January 26, 1812, the Count of Linhares, the other benefactor in José
Bonifácio's life, died in Brazil.
José
Bonifácio was very unhappy in Portugal, since the death of the Count
of Linhares in 1812. Because of his liberal ideas, he had made many
enemies in Portugal, and his enemies made his life very
difficult.
During the years he was living in Europe, José Bonifácio also had to participate in four duels, on four separate occasions, to defend his honor, in which his adversaries lost their lives. One of Jose Bonifacio's nephews claimed that it was seven duels that José Bonifácio had participated.
During the years he was living in Europe, José Bonifácio also had to participate in four duels, on four separate occasions, to defend his honor, in which his adversaries lost their lives. One of Jose Bonifacio's nephews claimed that it was seven duels that José Bonifácio had participated.
José
Bonifácio requested permission from Dom Joäo a number of times
between 1810 and 1818 to return to Brazil, but he was too valuable in
Portugal. King Joäo VI gave authorization for his return only in
October 29, 1818.
José
Bonifácio and his family (his wife Narcisa O'Leary de Andrada, his
daughter Gabriela Frederica Ribeiro de Andrada, and a baby that he
had adopted in that year, the baby's name was Narcisa Candida, and
she was under a year old) left Portugal on August 19, 1819, to return
to Brazil.
José
Bonifácio Returns to Brazil in 1819
José
Bonifácio arrived in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil before the end of
1819, after being away for thirty six years, of which he lived twenty
six years in Portugal. He was fifty six years old, which was
considered old for that time. During Jose Bonifacio's lifetime (June
13, 1763 to April 6, 1838), the life expectancy at that time ranged
from 37 to 40-years old.
José Bonifácio was solely responsible for the independence and unity of Brazil in 1822. His brother Martim Francisco also did an outstanding job as Finance Minister, and he is credited with the plan which was put in place to finance the Brazilian army and navy during the independence effort. Without José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva in Brazilian history, Brazil would have split itself into 5 or 6 independent countries in the 1820's.
José Bonifácio was solely responsible for the independence and unity of Brazil in 1822. His brother Martim Francisco also did an outstanding job as Finance Minister, and he is credited with the plan which was put in place to finance the Brazilian army and navy during the independence effort. Without José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva in Brazilian history, Brazil would have split itself into 5 or 6 independent countries in the 1820's.
Most people don't know enough about
Brazilian history, and its details to appreciate the reasons why José
Bonifácio (the founding father of Brazil) is considered the most
important figure in Brazilian history. There is no other person in
Brazilian history who comes close to José Bonifácio in the impact
that he had on the history of the country.
To demonstrate José Bonifácio's
importance to the history of Brazil, we can say that José Bonifácio
was responsible for the unification of Brazil in 1822. It was José
Bonifácio's statesmanship ability that united the country which we
call Brazil. The country that he united in 1822 is almost the same
size as the country that we have today. Since 1822 Brazil gained just
a little and lost a little territory.
There was no unity in Brazil in 1822
or before 1822. The north of Brazil had better communications with
Europe than with Rio de Janeiro. — He unified a very large country
with his exceptional political savvy and statesmanship skills, with a
small army, with a small navy and with almost no bloodshed, when
compared with other major revolutions of that time such as the French
Revolution, and the American Revolution.
If
José Bonifácio had made a single mistake during that very delicate
turning point in Brazilian history, the result would have been
disastrous for Brazil. If they had to fight multiple rebellions for
independence from the north to the south of Brazil, then everything
could have gotten out of control, and their small army and navy would
not have a single chance to keep the new nation together. (Remember,
Brazil was too large to be controlled with this small army and navy
with the communication, and transportation systems available in
Brazil in 1822.) If that had happened the result would have been
disastrous, and Brazil would have been split into five or six
independent countries at that point.
In 1621, Maranhão
became a separate colony of Portugal, because it was easier to
maintain communications from Maranhão in the north of Brazil with
Lisbon, in Portugal, than with the capital of Brazil, São Salvador,
in the Captaincy of Bahia. The new colony of Portugal included most
of the Captaincies north and west of Cabo São Roque, and included
parts of Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão, Pará and Amazonas. This colony
was never prosperous.
In 1822, at the time of the Brazilian
independence from Portugal, the north of Brazil was precariously
connected to the south. The king of Portugal preferred to keep the
Captaincies ( States) isolated, and ignorant of one another. Royal
edicts of 1614 and
1620 prohibited a governor-general from one Captaincy to visit
another Captaincy in Brazil, without permission from Portugal.
To put things in the right perspective
let's review some facts, and some other events, which where happening
around the 1820's. The United States in 1820, was a country half of
today's size. The United States consisted of its thirteen original
states. It had also acquired a new piece of land by the Treaty of
Versailles in 1783, the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, and
Florida in 1819 from Spain. Even if we added the newly purchased
lands to the United States, the U.S. still was half of the size of
Brazil in 1822, the time of Brazilian independence.
The United States had to fight an
independence war in 1776, to achieve the independence of its thirteen
original states. U.S. independence was achieved with bloodshed, and
suffering for American colonists. By contrast, Brazilian independence
was achieved with very little bloodshed because of José Bonifácio's
statesmanship abilities.
José Bonifácio was aware of the
disintegration of the Spanish empire in the Americas, that was in
progress. Spanish America disintegrated into eight separate and
independent countries during the period 1810 to 1830.
Spanish
America broke up into various republics, and their independence was
as follows: Paraguay (1811), Argentina (1816), Chile (1818), Colombia
(1819), Ecuador (1822), Peru (1824), Bolivia (1825), and Venezuela
(1830). The independence of these countries from Spain was
accomplished with a twenty year civil war in that region of South
America, and split Spanish America into eight independent republics.
Uruguay got its independence in 1828 from Brazil.
The independence process
King
Dom Joäo VI enjoyed his life in Brazil, and he loved Rio de Janeiro.
The French had long been expelled from Portugal, and Napoleon's fate
had been sealed for good, but Dom Joäo VI wanted to stay in Brazil,
and he had no desire to return to Portugal to the constant intrigues
of the Portuguese Cortes.
European
events finally forced the monarch's return to Portugal. In the year
1820, there was a rash of rebellions against absolute monarchies in
Europe. Inspired by these revolts, Portuguese liberals rebelled in
Oporto late in 1820, and demanded a constitution. The movement spread
to Lisbon, and Dom Joäo VI was faced with the choice of returning to
Portugal to fight for his crown or of losing it. Reluctantly, he
chose to return.
In April 26, 1821, King Joäo VI, the Royal family, and the Portuguese court, left Brazil to return to Portugal, but the King left his oldest son, Prince Dom Pedro (October 12, 1798 – September 24, 1834) as the Regent in Brazil. The Prince was only 22 years old, and lacked any formal education, since he was very young, he always disliked studying. He spent most of his time riding horses, and playing with his bulls.
When Dom Joäo VI left Brazil with over four thousand people, these people had wealth, and when all of them withdrew their assets from Banco do Brazil at the same time, they left the bank in a very difficult, and poor financial situation.
After arriving in Portugal in mid 1821, Dom Joäo VI found himself completely powerless. He had even less power than the Prince Regent, who had been left in Brazil. He had lost all of his executive powers, and the Portuguese government was reacting against everything he had done in Brazil in the last thirteen years.
The
Portuguese Parliament called the Cortes Gerais de Portugal (Cortes),
for all its professed liberalism, favored a constitutional monarchy.
The members were extremely hostile toward Brazil, and determined that
Brazil should be deprived of its coequal status with Portugal. The
members of the Cortes attempted to abolish the privileges granted by
Dom Joäo VI, and devise other ways to weaken Brazil. They passed a
number of measures to accomplish that goal. The Cortes commanded that
Dom Pedro's ministers be appointed from Lisbon, and in late 1821, the
Cortes ordered Dom Pedro to return to Portugal to complete his
education.
By the end of 1821, the Prince was ready to leave, and return to Portugal to comply with the orders received from the Cortes. José Bonifácio played a major role in convincing the Prince to stay in Brazil. The Prince changed his mind, and decided to stay in Brazil defying the Cortes' orders.
On
April 23, 1821, before the King had left Brazil, when the people were
meeting in Säo Paulo, they decided to have elections, and form a
provisory government in Säo Paulo. They chose José Bonifácio to be
the speaker. José Bonifácio told them that it was an honor for him
to preside over the elections of the provisory government. He told
them that for the happiness of his motherland he would make any
sacrifice, and he would even spill the last drop of his blood.
José
Bonifácio chose for President of Säo Paulo, Joäo Carlos Augusto de
Ocynhausen. The people's reply was very cold, and the people
requested that José Bonifácio accept at least the position of
Vice-President.
After
José Bonifácio accepted the position, they continued with the
elections until all the new government members were selected. A
brother of José Bonifácio (Martim Francisco Ribeiro de Andrada) was
chosen as Interior and Finance Minister of the new government of Säo
Paulo. Among the six deputies (deputados) who were elected to serve
at the Cortes in Lisbon, was another brother of José Bonifácio
(Antônio Carlos Ribeiro de Andrada Machado).
Antônio
Carlos had just been released from prison, and was lucky to be alive
after he participated in 1817, in a republican and Mason revolution
in Pernambuco.
In
a letter dated July 17, 1821, from the Prince Dom Pedro to his father
the king, he mentioned the elections in Säo Paulo, and he told his
father that José Bonifácio was the Vice-President, and that they
owed to him the fact that they had tranquility in the Province of Säo
Paulo.
In
decree of October 1, 1821, the Cortes requested the immediate return
of the Prince to Portugal, and they ordered the Captaincies to report
directly to Lisbon, instead of Rio de Janeiro.
On
December 9, 1821, an order from the Cortes was received in Rio de
Janeiro to elect a government junta, and to accelerate the return of
the Prince to Portugal.
The
Prince wrote back to his father on the same day saying; "as soon
they elect the new junta, I will turn over the government, and will
return immediately to Portugal as per your decree. I will take even
the Fragata Uniäo, because from this day on, I don't want to have
any influence in the Brazilian affairs.”
The
Captaincy of Pará and Maranhäo in the north of Brazil answered
directly to Lisbon, and not to Rio de Janeiro. After the radical
changes by the Cortes, cutting completely Dom Pedro's authority,
Brazil was without an effective central government. Not the Regent or
the junta or anyone had real authority in Brazil.
The
Captaincy of Pará submitted a request to become a province of
Portugal. The Captaincy of Bahia governed by a junta of six
Portugueses, and three Brazilians, requested from Portugal that they
send more Portuguese soldiers. After the new soldiers arrived, the
Portuguese got stronger in the Province of Bahia.
When
the order of the Cortes arrived saying that Bahia, Pará, Maranhäo,
Pernambuco and Minas Gerais should communicate directly with Lisbon,
Dom Pedro wrote to his father saying that he was happy to be the
Governor of only Rio de Janeiro.
José
Bonifácio did not waste any time. He sent people from Säo Paulo to
agitate the people in Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Goiás, and
Mato Grosso. He found out that the people from these provinces were
also loyal Brazilians.
On
December 24, 1821, José Bonifácio wrote a very nasty and violent
letter to Dom Pedro describing his thoughts regarding the actions
taken by the Portuguese Cortes. He listed the Cortes' actions item by
item and told Dom Pedro "you stay on our side, or do not doubt
for a second we will get the arms to fight for our independence from
Portugal". He also wrote; "If you accept the Cortes decree
of September 29, 1821, you will lose not only your dignity as a man,
but also as a Prince. You will turn yourself into a slave of the
Cortes, and you will be responsible under heaven for the river of
blood which will run in Brazil".
The
letter was delivered to Dom Pedro in Rio de Janeiro on January 1,
1822 at 8:00 PM. The letter made Dom Pedro very happy, because that
was the first sign that he was wanted in Brazil, and the possibility
that if he stayed in Brazil, he might be their new king. Dom Pedro
called a trusted friend, and gave him a copy of this letter from José
Bonifácio. He asked this friend to show the letter around to all
trusted Brazilian patriots. It was a mission done well.
José
Bonifácio sent a letter to the government in Minas Gerais asking
them to join Säo Paulo in the coming fight for independence. They
received the letter on January 8, 1822, and on the same day they sent
the answer that they would stand by José Bonifácio when the
fighting began.
Dom
Pedro wrote to his father to inform him that Säo Paulo had rejected
all orders from the Cortes, and that they had Minas Gerais on their
side. He also wrote " José Bonifácio is writing to all the
provinces. What am I supposed to do? The opinion is all against the
Cortes everywhere."
Pressed
to stay in Brazil on January 9, 1822, Dom Pedro declared: "FICO"
- "I Will Remain."
José Bonifácio arrived in Rio de Janeiro on January 17, 1822, and on the same day Dom Pedro asked him to be his Prime Minister. Never before had there been a Brazilian Minister, José Bonifácio was the first Brazilian to rise to the position of Minister.
José Bonifácio arrived in Rio de Janeiro on January 17, 1822, and on the same day Dom Pedro asked him to be his Prime Minister. Never before had there been a Brazilian Minister, José Bonifácio was the first Brazilian to rise to the position of Minister.
José Bonifácio created the situation which ended with the "FICO." Before the "FICO" Dom Pedro always had good relations with the Andrada family, and he had great admiration and respect for José Bonifácio.
Dona
Leopoldina, wife of Dom Pedro also admired José Bonifácio, and she
was his very good friend.
Dona
Leopoldina was Archduchess Leopoldina Josepha Carolina of Hapsburg,
daughter of the Austrian Emperor, sister of Marie Louise Bonaparte,
and niece of Marie Antoinette. She was kind hearted, intelligent, and
the Brazilians loved her.
José
Bonifácio's Rise to Power
The
Prince Dom Pedro asked José Bonifácio to be his Prime Minister, but
José Bonifácio refused the offer. The Prince insisted that José
Bonifácio accept his offer. José Bonifácio told the Prince that he
would accept the position only when allowed to impose his unlimited
authority. The task at hand was to define the sovereignty,
territorial integrity, and unity within the national objectives at
the time of the birth of the new nation. José Bonifácio also needed
to properly fit together a number of policies dealing with
anti-colonialism, non-intervention, self-determination, free trade,
social policy, and peace. To accomplish all of these at the same time
required unlimited powers.
Dom
Pedro did not hesitate. He armed José Bonifácio with the highest
level of authority possible. The investiture of José Bonifácio
carried with it, the most extensive powers that any minister had in
the history of the imperial or republican Brazil.
Dom Pedro I made two very important decisions regarding Brazil: 1) the “FICO” and 2) he picked José Bonifácio to be his Prime Minister, and armed him with unlimited power.
Dom Pedro I made two very important decisions regarding Brazil: 1) the “FICO” and 2) he picked José Bonifácio to be his Prime Minister, and armed him with unlimited power.
José Bonifácio was not about money; he didn't care about money, and he had many opportunities over the years to get all kinds of land and tittles, in Portugal, and in Brazil, and he turned them down every time. If he wanted, he could have been the first Emperor of Brazil, but he turned down a number of times the offers from Dom Pedro, first in 1822, and later when Dom Pedro abdicated in 1828, since he didn't want to be Emperor of Brazil.
Among other things José Bonifácio's arrogance, and superior intellect that compelled him to be the architect of Brazilian independence, and write most of the documents that gave the foundations for Brazilian independence – one of these documents still considered the most important document in Brazilian history.
When José Bonifácio participated in the provisory government of Säo Paulo, he prepared a document that was signed by the members of the provisory government on October 9, 1821, called "Lembranças
e
Apontamentos". This document might be the most important
document in the history of reforms in Brazil. The document provided a
complete master plan for the new nation, and covered in detail all
the necessary building blocks of social, political and economic life.
Jose Bonifacio had the greatest
authority ever giving to anyone in Brazil. In the history of Brazil,
never before or after Jose Bonifacio, a person had so much authority,
and accomplished so much.
José
Bonifácio was responsible for the creation of the Brazilian army and
navy. First, he hired a French general called General Pedro Labatut
to head and help organize the army.
Second, he asked the Marques de Barbacena, the Brazilian diplomatic agent in London, to hire English officers and sailors for the new Brazilian navy. Barbacena following the request, hired and sent to Brazil around four hundred men. He suggested to José Bonifácio the name of Admiral Cochrane to head the navy. He was a great Admiral; greedy, audacious, loved adventure, was not afraid of taking risks; however, he was a man without scruples.
José Bonifácio learned that Lord Thomas Cochrane was very unhappy with the Chilean government, which he had helped with their independence. The Chilean government owed money to Cochrane, but he was having a problem receiving the money.
José Bonifácio sent a letter dated November 4, 1822, to the Brazilian consul in Buenos Aires, requesting him to offer Lord Cochrane twelve thousand patacões (currency of the time) per year, also as part of the deal, the Brazilian government would take responsibility for the Chilean debt of sixty thousand patacões which Cochrane was having a problem collecting.
José Bonifácio knew that he needed a navy to be able to unite Brazil. He organized the Ministry of Navy after the independence on September 7, 1822. He asked Lord Cochrane to take the position of First Admiral, and made an agreement in which he would stay in that position until Portugal recognized the independence of Brazil, and he would help in the defense of the new country.
Lord Cochrane brought with him some other British officers, among them, Norton, Greenfel, Crosby, Shepperd and Jewett. Some of these British officers died defending Brazil.
Second, he asked the Marques de Barbacena, the Brazilian diplomatic agent in London, to hire English officers and sailors for the new Brazilian navy. Barbacena following the request, hired and sent to Brazil around four hundred men. He suggested to José Bonifácio the name of Admiral Cochrane to head the navy. He was a great Admiral; greedy, audacious, loved adventure, was not afraid of taking risks; however, he was a man without scruples.
José Bonifácio learned that Lord Thomas Cochrane was very unhappy with the Chilean government, which he had helped with their independence. The Chilean government owed money to Cochrane, but he was having a problem receiving the money.
José Bonifácio sent a letter dated November 4, 1822, to the Brazilian consul in Buenos Aires, requesting him to offer Lord Cochrane twelve thousand patacões (currency of the time) per year, also as part of the deal, the Brazilian government would take responsibility for the Chilean debt of sixty thousand patacões which Cochrane was having a problem collecting.
José Bonifácio knew that he needed a navy to be able to unite Brazil. He organized the Ministry of Navy after the independence on September 7, 1822. He asked Lord Cochrane to take the position of First Admiral, and made an agreement in which he would stay in that position until Portugal recognized the independence of Brazil, and he would help in the defense of the new country.
Lord Cochrane brought with him some other British officers, among them, Norton, Greenfel, Crosby, Shepperd and Jewett. Some of these British officers died defending Brazil.
The army
and the navy played an important role by beating the Portuguese army
and navy, when they engaged in battle. There was some bloodshed, but
it was kept to a minimum. The situation was so explosive that any
minor miscalculation at that point, would have turned into a nasty
civil war in Brazil from north to south.
José
Bonifácio's major accomplishment in Brazil was the consolidation of
the independence with national sovereignty, political unity and
territorial integrity.
Thank you, to José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (The Patriarch of Independence) for the legacy he left to future Brazilian generations. His legacy is "Brazil" the country itself.
Copyright © 2013 All rights
reserved.
By: Ricardo C. Amaral
Author / Economist
He can be reached at:brazilamaral@yahoo.com
By: Ricardo C. Amaral
Author / Economist
He can be reached at:brazilamaral@yahoo.com
**********
Notes:
Most of the above information is from
my book “José
Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva - The
Greatest Man in Brazilian History”, plus various blogs of mine, and
a number of postings that I made in the internet over the years
regarding this subject.
On my book, I have all the footnotes citing sources of material.
The above information about the “Marquis of Pombal”, some of the information was quoted from my book, and some information from Wikipedia.
The above information about the “Marquis de Condorcet”, the source was Wikipedia.
On my book, I have all the footnotes citing sources of material.
The above information about the “Marquis of Pombal”, some of the information was quoted from my book, and some information from Wikipedia.
The above information about the “Marquis de Condorcet”, the source was Wikipedia.
Further information about the
Andrada family:
In 1823, the Andrada brothers (José
Bonifácio, Martim Francisco, and Antônio Carlos), with their
leadership, had a major impact on the Constituent Assembly. They
guided the proceedings of the process of framing the first Brazilian
Constitution. This Constitution was effective December 13, 1823. They
used as a model the French Constitution of 1816, which is also
referred to as the "Lamartine Constitution".
Jose Bonifacio, at the end of his life
he was very sick and spent most of his time tutoring his youngest
daughter and he died from cancer in April 6, 1838. But the influence
of the Andrada family had not diminished, and his brothers Antonio
Carlos and Martin Francisco were the most important figures that
forced the emancipation of Dom Pedro II, to become the second Emperor
of Brazil in 1840 – and Antonio Carlos became the new Prime
Minister, and Martin Francisco became the Finance Minister for the
second time.
Martim
Francisco did an outstanding job as Finance Minister in 1822, and he
is credited with the plan which was put in place to finance the
Brazilian army and navy during the independence effort. He is
considered to be the first great financier in Brazilian
history, and he served as Finance Minister for a second time in 1840.
José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (The Patriarch of Brazilian Independence), his brother Martim Francisco, and later my great-great-grandfather Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva (O Moco) were all considered great abolitionists, and they set up the framework to end slavery in Brazil.
My great-great-grandfather Jose
Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva (O Moco) – they called him O Moco to
distinguish him from his grandfather Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e
Silva (O Patriarch of Independence).
Brazzil
Magazine - February 2005
“Brazil, the Original Leader of
the Americas – Part I”
Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
Brazzil Magazine - February 2005
“Brazil, the Original Leader of
the Americas – Part II”
Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
The
Andrada Dynasty
Andrada a Family of Revolutionaries
Brazzil
Magazine - January 2003
“The Brazilian Ruling Class”
Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
My gratitude and thanks, to my ancestors: José Bonifácio de Andrada
e Silva (The Patriarch of Independence), his brother Martim Francisco
Ribeiro de Andrada, and José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (O Moço/
The Younger) for their major contributions to Brazilian history.
**********
The above article it was also published at:
Brazzil magazine – June 11, 2013
Why
José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva Is the Greatest Man in Brazilian
History
Written by Ricardo C. Amaral
.