Lauro Müller
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Lauro Severiano Müller (8 November 1863 — 30 July 1926) was a Brazilian politician, diplomat, and military engineer. Responsible for the transition of Santa Catarina from a province to a state, he is also recognised as one of those who helped achieve the Brazilian diplomatic victory over Bolivia through the Treaty of Petrópolis, which allowed for the purchase of Acre and its incorporation into Brazil.
Born in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, he was the son of the German immigrants Peter Müller and Anna Michels, originally from the Rhineland. On his mother's side, his first cousin was Filipe Schmidt, who also served two terms as President of Santa Catarina. A passionate follower of Benjamin Constant's positivism in his youth, he embarked on a military career in his native province after a brief stint in a merchant's office.
His political career began in 1889, when the first President of Brazil, Deodoro da Fonseca, made him President of Santa Catarina and charged him with organising the province that had been transformed into a state.
Later, he served as a federal deputy, senator (1899-1926), member of the Academy of Letters (1912-1926), and minister of state. He carried out great reforms while holding the ministerial portfolios of Industry, Transport and Public Works, during the presidency of Rodrigues Alves. As Minister of Foreign Affairs a post he assumed in 1912 upon the untimely death of the Barão do Rio Branco, he pursued economic integration with Argentina and Chile. He resigned in 1917 because Brazil had entered World War I on the side of the Allies, a move he opposed due to his German roots. He was elected President of Santa Catarina again in 1918, but preferred to remain a senator.
During an official visit to the U.S. as Minister of Foreign Affair, he offered the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by Harvard University.
He became popular for his important public works, such as the construction of Rio de Janeiro's Avenida Central, today Avenida Rio Branco, and improvements to that city's port. He died in Rio in 1926.
| Preceded by Augusto Fausto de Sousa (last Imperial governor) |
President of Santa Catarina 1889 — 1891 |
Succeeded by Manuel Joaquim Machado |
| Preceded by Filipe Schmidt |
President of Santa Catarina 1902 — 1906 |
Succeeded by Gustavo Richard |
| Preceded by Barão do Rio Branco |
Seat 36 of the Academia Brasileira de Letras September 14, 1912 — July 30, 1926 |
Succeeded by Francisco de Aquino Correia |
[edit] References
- (Portuguese) Brazilian Regional Bio-Bibliographic Dictionary
- (Portuguese) Some famous people named Müller
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