Tiradentes

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Joaquim José da Silva Xavier

Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as Tiradentes (1746–April 21, 1792), was part of the Brazilian seditious movement known as the Inconfidência Mineira.

Born in São José del Rei (now called Tiradentes), Minas Gerais, Tiradentes was adopted by his godfather and moved to Vila Rica (now Ouro Preto) after the deaths of his parents (mother in 1755; father in 1757). He practiced several professions — cattle driver, miner, dentist (hence his nickname, Tiradentes or "tooth puller") — and was a member of the Regimento dos Dragões de Minas Gerais militia. As Tiradentes was not a member of the local aristocracy, he was systematically overlooked for promotion and never rose above the rank of alferes (2nd lieutenant).

Influenced by the writings of Rousseau, and by the American and French Revolutions, Tiradentes joined with a number of like-minded citizens in the Inconfidência. Rejecting Portuguese taxation and rule, they wanted to found a republic with its capital at São João del Rei and to create a university. The proposed flag for the new republic bore the Latin motto "Libertas quae sera tamem" (Liberty, even if delayed).

The plot was betrayed and Tiradentes and 11 others were sentenced to death. Other members of the Inconfidência were sentenced to public whippings and life imprisonment. Of those sentenced to death, only Tiradentes was executed. He was hanged on April 21, 1792, in Rio de Janeiro. His body was quartered and his head displayed publicly in the Vila Rica square as a warning to other revolutionaries.

He began being considered a national hero by the republicans in the late 19th century, and after the republic was proclaimed in Brazil in 1889 the anniversary of his death (April 21st) became a national holiday.