José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco

The Baron of Rio Branco
The Baron of Rio Branco c. 1898
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
3 December 1902 – 10 February 1912
PresidentRodrigues Alves
Afonso Pena
Nilo Peçanha
Hermes da Fonseca
Preceded byOlinto de Magalhães
Succeeded byLauro Müller
Ambassador of Brazil to Germany
In office
16 April 1901 – 10 November 1902
Nominated byCampos Sales
Preceded byCyro de Azevedo
Succeeded byJosé Pereira da Costa Motta
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
11 May 1869 – 10 October 1875
ConstituencyMato Grosso
Personal details
BornJosé Maria da Silva Paranhos Júnior
(1845-04-20)20 April 1845
Died10 February 1912(1912-02-10) (aged 66)
PartyConservative (1868–1889)
Independent (1889–1912)
Spouse
Marie Philomène Stevens
(m. 1889; died 1898)
Children5, including Paulo
Parents
Alma materFaculty of Law of Recife
ProfessionDiplomat
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José Maria da Silva Paranhos Júnior, Baron of Rio Branco (Portuguese: Barão do Rio Branco; 20 April 1845 – 10 February 1912) was a Brazilian statesman, diplomat, geographer, historian, politician and professor, considered to be the "Patron of Brazilian diplomacy". Rio Branco was the son of statesman José Paranhos, Viscount of Rio Branco.

As a representative of Brazil, he managed to peacefully resolve all the country's border disputes with its South American neighbours in the early 20th century, incorporating 900 thousand square kilometers (roughly 10% of Brazil's current territory) through his diplomacy alone. He was also a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, occupying its 34th chair from 1898 until his death in 1912.