José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (1763-1838)

José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva was born in Santos on 13 June 1763 and started out in public life when he was old enough to retire: he was 56 years old, when he returned from Europe, where he had gone to study Philosophy, Law and Mineralogy and where he had lived for 36 years. Only in 1819 did he start to dedicate himself to politics in the Viceroyalty of Brazil. Two years later, he was Vice-President of the Governing Junta of São Paulo.

A man of the trust of Dom Pedro, the Prince Regent, he participated in the campaign which resulted in Fico Day (Dia do Fico). He organised the first Ministerial Cabinet of Brazil, with himself being responsible for the Empire and Foreigners posts. The so-called Patriarch of the Independence was a skilful politician who commanded a group of patriots in the fight for the separation of Brazil from Portugal. He was also active in the back rooms of power: in March 1822, he influenced the Prince Regent to prohibit the disembarkation of Portuguese troops in Rio.

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• José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (1763-1838)

He not only achieved his aims but went even further: two months later, he convinced the Prince Regent to determine that orders coming from Portugal should only be complied with if previously approved by the Prince Regent. Portugal soon reacted: at the end of August, the Court ordered that José Bonifácio, as also the whole Ministerial Cabinet should be dismissed. Dom Pedro was then in São Paulo. On receiving new orders from the Portuguese Court, together with a letter from the Minister of the Empire and Foreigners, he decided to proclaim the independence of Brazil. José Bonifácio led the Brazilian Party which, at the Constituent Assembly of 1823 had as its main opposition group the Portuguese Party, whose ranks included military people, Portuguese shopkeepers and high employees.

The Brazilian Party included large owners of slaves and land, who withdrew their support for José Bonifácio when he declared that he was in favour of phasing out slavery. At the same time, on another battle front, he commanded the war against the Portuguese who still resisted the independence of Brazil, especially in Bahia, in Pará and in Maranhão.

Dom Pedro was a supporter of the Portuguese Party, and the Cabinet led by José Bonifácio fell in July that same year. He thus became the Shadow Leader and attacked the Emperor and his lover, Domitila de Castro Melo, through the Press. To cause greater provocation to both him and his family, who lived in Santos, Dom Pedro bestowed on Domitila the title of Marchioness of Santos.

In November 1823, José Bonifácio and his siblings were kicked out of Brazil.

The Patriarch of Independence lived in France for six years and then, in 1829, with the death of his wife Narcisa Emília O’Leary, he returned to Brazil and reconciled with the Emperor. In 1831, when Dom Pedro abdicated to take over the Portuguese throne, he was appointed as the tutor of the princes that had stayed in Rio. In 1833, he was removed from his position by Regency decree and was then confined to his house on Paquetá Island, where he died in 1838.

Source:
100 Brazilians book (100 Brasileiros) (2004)