Joaquim Nabuco

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Joaquim Aurélio Barreto Nabuco de Araújo (August 19, 1849—January 17, 1910) was a Brazilian writer and statesman.

The son of a wealthy landowner from Recife, Joaquim vehemently opposed slavery, which he fought by political activity and in his writings. He campaigned against slavery in the Chamber of Deputies from 1878, and he founded the Brazilian Anti-Slavery Society. He was largely responsible for the abolition of slavery in 1888, and after the overthrow of the Brazilian monarchy he retired from public life for a period of time.

He later served as an ambassador to the United States (1905—1910). He spent many years in both England and France, where he was a strong proponent of Pan-Americanism, presiding over the 1906 Pan-Americanism conference.

His best known work is his autobiography Minha formação (My formation), published in 1900. It vividly portrays the slaveholding society in 19th century Brazil. He died in Washington D.C..