José Paranhos, Viscount of Rio Branco (1819–1880) was a politician, monarchist, diplomat, teacher and journalist of the Empire of Brazil. In 1871, Rio Branco became the President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) for the first time. He would become the Council's longest- serving president, and his cabinet the second longest, in Brazilian history. His government was marked by a time of economic prosperity and the enactment of several necessary reforms—though they proved to be seriously flawed. The most important of these initiatives was the Law of Free Birth, which granted freeborn status to children born to slave women. Having become one of the main leaders of the Conservative Party, the passage of this law increased Rio Branco's popularity. However, his government was plagued by a long crisis with the Catholic Church that had resulted from the expulsion of Freemasons from its lay brotherhoods. After more than four years heading the Cabinet, Rio Branco resigned in 1875. Following a long vacation in Europe, his health swiftly declined and he was diagnosed with oral cancer. Rio Branco died in 1880 and was widely mourned throughout the country. He is regarded by most historians as one of Brazil's greatest statesmen.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Paranhos,_Viscount_of_Rio_Branco
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1777:
American Revolutionary War: The Americans, led by General John Stark, routed British and Brunswick troops under Friedrich Baum at the Battle of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bennington
1891:
The Basilica of San Sebastian in Manila, the only all-steel church in Asia, was officially consecrated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Sebastian,_Manila
1896:
A group led by Skookum Jim Mason discovered gold near Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush
1900:
Second Boer War: A 10,000-strong column of soldiers left by Lord Kitchener broke a 13-day siege of a small garrison. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Elands_River_(1900)
1987:
Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed after takeoff in Detroit, Michigan, US, killing all of the crew and passengers except one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Airlines_Flight_255
2009:
Y. E. Yang won the 2009 PGA Championship to become the first Asian-born golfer to win a men's major golf championship. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yang_Yong-eun
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
nowise: (In) no way, (in) no manner, definitely not. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nowise
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Rebellion must have an unassailable base, something guarded not merely from attack, but from the fear of it: --T. E. Lawrence https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/T._E._Lawrence