Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Marquis of Paraná (1801–56) was a politician of the Empire of Brazil, widely regarded by historians as one of the most influential statesmen of his time. He was elected in 1830 to represent Minas Gerais in the Chamber of Deputies. After Pedro I abdicated in 1831, the regency created to govern Brazil during the minority of Pedro II soon dissolved into chaos. Paraná formed a political party in 1837, and he and his party provided a stalwart defence of constitutional order. As president of Rio de Janeiro Province, he helped put down a rebellion headed by the opposition Liberal Party. In 1843, he became the de facto first president of the Council of Ministers, but resigned after a quarrel with the Emperor. After years in opposition, in 1849, Paraná was appointed as president of Pernambuco Province and then helped to forge an successful alliance in 1851 with Uruguay against the Argentine Confederation. In 1853 Paraná was again appointed president of the Council of Ministers. His electoral reforms caused severe harm to the system of parliamentary government and led to a virtual split in his party. He died unexpectedly while still in office.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hon%C3%B3rio_Hermeto_Carneiro_Le%C3%A3o,_Marquis_of_Paran%C3%A1

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1055:

Theodora (pictured on coin), the daughter of Constantine VIII and Helena, daughter of Alypius, became Byzantine Empress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodora_(11th_century)

1693:

An intensity XI earthquake, the most powerful in Italian history, struck the island of Sicily. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1693_Sicily_earthquake

1879:

British forces under Lord Chelmsford invaded Zululand without authorisation from the British Government, beginning the Anglo-Zulu War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Zulu_War

1964:

In a landmark report, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued the warning that smoking may be hazardous for one's health, concluding that it has a causative role in lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other illnesses. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_and_Health:_Report_of_the_Advisory_Committee_to_the_Surgeon_General_of_the_United_States

1986:

The Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, Australia, at the time the longest prestressed concrete free-cantilever bridge in the world, opened. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

superannuated: Obsolete, antiquated. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/superannuated

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

There is but one indefectibly certain truth, and that is the truth that pyrrhonistic scepticism itself leaves standing, — the truth that the present phenomenon of consciousness exists.   --William James https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_James