José Bonifácio the Younger

For other uses, see José Bonifácio (disambiguation).

José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (November 8, 1827 – October 26, 1886) was a French-born Brazilian poet, teacher and senator. He is known as "the Younger" (Portuguese: O Moço) to distinguish him from his grand-uncle, José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, "the Elder" or "the Patriarch", a famous statesman who was one of the most important mentors of Brazilian independence.

José Bonifácio the Younger
Born	José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva (1827-11-08)November 8, 1827 Bordeaux, France
Died	October 26, 1886(1886-10-26) (aged 58) São Paulo, Brazil
Occupation	Poet, politician, teacher
Nationality	Brazilian
Alma mater	University of São Paulo
Subject	Mal du siècle, social engagement
Literary movement	Romanticism
Notable works	Rosas e Goivos
Spouse	Adelaide Eugênia da Costa Aguiar de Andrada, Rafaela de Souza Aguiar Gurgel
Children	José Bonifácio, Martim Francisco, Narcisa, Maria Flora, Gabriela
Relatives	José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, Martim Francisco Ribeiro de Andrada

He is the patron of the 22nd chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, and of the 7th chair of the Paulista Academy of Letters.

Life

José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva was born in 1827 at the French city of Bordeaux (because of the Andradas' exile), to Martim Francisco Ribeiro de Andrada and Gabriela Frederica Ribeiro de Andrada. After moving to Brazil, more precisely to Rio de Janeiro, he ingressed in his secondary course at what is now the Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras, but had to abandon his studies due to health problems. He graduated in Law in 1853, at the Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo, where he befriended Álvares de Azevedo, Aureliano Lessa and Bernardo Guimarães. He became a Law teacher at the Faculdade de Direito do Recife during 1854–1858, where he taught and heavily influenced Castro Alves, Salvador de Mendonça, Joaquim Nabuco, Afonso Pena and Rui Barbosa.

He became a provincial deputy in 1860, minister of the Brazilian Navy in 1862 and senator of the Empire of Brazil in 1864. Getting involved in abolitionist ideals, because of that he rejected the presidency of the Council of Ministers, offered to him by Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.

He was married to Adelaide Eugênia da Costa Aguiar de Andrada. When she died, he then married Rafaela de Souza Aguiar Gurgel do Amaral, having with her five children: José Bonifácio, Martim Francisco, Narcisa, Maria Flora and Gabriela.

He died in 1886.

 

A statue of José Bonifácio the Younger at the Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo

Works

José Bonifácio's only work was the poetry book Rosas e Goivos (in English: Roses and Cresses), published in 1848. Its poems oscillate between "Ultra-Romanticism" and "Condorism".

External links

• Extracts of poems by José Bonifácio at the official site of the Brazilian Academy of Letters (in Portuguese)
• José Bonifácio's biography at the official site of the Brazilian Academy of Letters (in Portuguese)
• Poems by José Bonifácio (in Portuguese)

Preceded by New creation

Brazilian Academy of Letters - Patron of the 22nd chair

Succeeded by Medeiros e Albuquerque (founder)