Afonso Pena

Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena (Portuguese: [aˈfõsu awˈɡustu moˈrejrɐ ˈpenɐ]; 30 November 1847 – 14 June 1909) was a Brazilian politician who served as President of Brazil between 1906 and 1909. Before his political career, Pena had been an attorney and legal scholar.[1] He was the first president to die in office.

His Excellency Afonso Pena
President of Brazil
In office 15 November 1906 – 14 June 1909
Vice President	Nilo Peçanha
Preceded by	Rodrigues Alves
Succeeded by	Nilo Peçanha
Vice President of Brazil
In office 17 June 1903 – 14 November 1906
President	Rodrigues Alves
Preceded by	Rosa e Silva
Succeeded by	Nilo Peçanha
Personal details
Born	(1847-11-30)30 November 1847 Santa Bárbara, Minas Gerais, Empire of Brazil
Died	14 June 1909(1909-06-14) (aged 61) Catete Palace, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Political party	Conservative Party (1874–1889) Mineiro Republican Party (1889–1909)
Spouse(s)	Maria Guilhermina de Oliveira (m. 1875⁠–⁠1909) ; his death
Children	12
Alma mater	University of São Paulo
Signature
Other offices held 1900–1902: President of the Belo Horizonte Deliberative Council 1895–1898: President of the Bank of Brazil 1900–1902: State Senator, Minas Gerais 1892–1894: President of Minas Gerais 1891–1891: State Senator, Minas Gerais 1885–1885: Minister of Justice 1884–1884: Minister of War 1883–1884: Minister of Agriculture and Transport 1882–1882: Minister of War (interim) 1882–1882: Minister of the Navy (interim) 1878–1889: General Deputy for Minas Gerais 1874–1878: Provincial Deputy, Minas Gerais

Pena began his political career in 1874 with an election to the Imperial General Assembly. In the succeeding years, Pena reconciled legislative work with some periods occupying secretariats—secretary of Agriculture (1882), Commerce and Public Issues (1883) and Justice (1885). As president of the provincial assembly of Minas Gerais, Pena inaugurated the new capital Belo Horizonte .

After the proclamation of the Republic, he was governor of Minas Gerais between 1892 and 1894. It was during his administration that Belo Horizonte was set for the future state capital (which at that time was Ouro Preto). He ran in the presidential election of 1894, but lost by a large margin to Prudente de Morais.

In 1902 Pena became Vice President to Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves. As Vice President, he also served as the President of the Senate.[2] He was elected president in 1906 and served until his death in 1909, a few days after the passing of his son Álvaro Pena.

Afonso Pena was the first Brazilian president to advocate intervening in the coffee economy. The federal government started to buy production surplus, thus maintaining the high price of coffee in international markets. Pena also promoted the expansion of railroads.

The reorganization of the Brazilian army was done by Hermes da Fonseca during the Pena administration. The president also supported Cândido Rondon's expeditions in the Amazon Rainforest.