Adolfo Gordo

Adolfo Gordo (12 August 1858 – 29 June 1929) was a Brazilian politician and businessman. He is noted for formulating the Gordo Laws, which expelled foreign-born labor activists in Brazil. Gordo was also the brother-in-law of Prudente de Morais, the first civilian president of Brazil.

Biography Gordo was born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, on 12 August 1858. He was the son of Antonio Jose da Silva and Ana Blandina de Barros. His father was a farmer, a councilor of Limeira, and a lieutenant colonel of the National Guard. Antonio died when Gordo was ten years old. Gordo attended Colegio São Luís, in Itu, and at the Santista Institute, run by Augusto Freire in Santos. In 1902, it was recorded that Gordo replaced Pedro Velho as the president of the province of Rio Grande do Norte a few days after the latter was elected into the position. Some of his noted accomplishments included the establishment of a normal school and his rewards for those who successfully perfected salt production.

Gordo was elected to the National Assembly in 1890, the year when Brazil's first republican constitution was drafted. He remained as a deputy in the Assembly until 1902.

Legislations Gordo became notorious for sponsoring the Gordo Laws, which became the legal basis for deporting foreign-born leaders. It was initially created to intimidate the workers’ movement that emerged in the neighborhoods of Bras and Mooca.

Gordo also authored a bill that sought to regulate compensation in instances of conflict between capital and labor and it also included proposed government mediation. He was also responsible for a bill that passed into law in 1923. It was considered then as a legislation that restricted the freedom of the press. Gordo had also supported bills that introduced divorce in Brazil and those that advanced women's rights.

Death Gordo died on 29 June 1929.