Pedro II (1825–1891) was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of the House of Braganza. His father's abrupt abdication and flight to Europe in 1831 left a five-year-old Pedro as Emperor and led to a grim and lonely childhood and adolescence. Obliged to spend his time studying in preparation for rule, he knew only brief moments of happiness and encountered few friends of his age. His experiences with court intrigues and political disputes during this period greatly affected his later character. Pedro II grew into a man with a strong sense of duty and devotion toward his country and his people. On the other hand, he increasingly resented his role as monarch. Inheriting an empire on the verge of disintegration, Pedro II turned Brazil into an emerging power. The nation grew to be distinguished from its Hispanic neighbors on account of its political stability, zealously-guarded freedom of speech, respect for civil rights, vibrant economic growth and especially for its form of government: a functional, representative parliamentary monarchy.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_II_of_Brazil

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1763:

The Touro Synagogue, the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America, was formally dedicated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touro_Synagogue

1804:

The coronation of Napoleon I of France was held at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation_of_Napoleon_I

1823:

U.S. President James Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine, a proclamation of opposition to European colonialism in the New World. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrine

1956:

Cuban Revolution: The yacht Granma, carrying Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the 26th of July Movement, reached the shores of Cuba. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granma_%28yacht%29

2008:

Thai political crisis: The Constitutional Court of Thailand dissolved three political parties, including the governing People's Power Party, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somchai_Wongsawat

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

sententious (adj): 1. (obsolete) Full of meaning. 2. Using as few words as possible; pithy and concise. 3. Tending to use aphorisms, especially given to trite moralizing http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sententious

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I do think that if I had to choose one word to which hope can be tied it is hospitality. A practice of hospitality— recovering threshold, table, patience, listening, and from there generating seedbeds for virtue and friendship on the one hand — on the other hand radiating out for possible community, for rebirth of community. --Ivan Illich http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ivan_Illich