Venceslau Brás

Venceslau Brás Pereira Gomes (26 February 1868 – 15 May 1966) was a Brazilian politician who served as the 9th President of Brazil from 1914 to 1918. Prior to his presidency he served as governor of Minas Gerais from 1909 to 1910, and as the 6th Vice President of Brazil under President Hermes da Fonseca from 1910 to 1914.

Early life Venceslau Brás Pereira Gomes was born in São Caetano da Vargem Grande on 26 February 1868. He came from an oligarchic family.

Career From 1909 to 1910, Brás served as governor of Minas Gerais.

Presidency (1914–1918)

Brás won the 1914 presidential election with 91.6% of the vote.

Vice President Urbano Santos da Costa Araújo served as acting president from 8 September to 9 October 1917 due to Brás suffering from an illness.

World War I

Lauro Müller, the Minister of Foreign Affairs under da Fonseca, was retained in Brás' cabinet. Müller's German heritage hurt his popularity as hostility towards Germany increased in Brazil. Müller resigned on 3 May 1917, and was replaced by Nilo Peçanha.

Brazil remained neutral in World War I under da Fonseca. Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Germany were broken on 11 April 1917, and seized 43 German merchant ships. The Brazilian steamer Macao was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Spain in October. Brás called for Brazil to enter World War I "in order to maintain the dignity of the nation." The Brazilian National Congress voted to declare war on the Central Powers on 26 October.

Death and legacy

Brás died in Itajubá on 15 February 1966.

Perobal was renamed to Presidente Venceslau in honour of Brás in 1921.