Hermes Ernesto da Fonseca (September 2, 1824 – February 7, 1891) was a Brazilian military officer and politician.
History
Biography
The eldest son of Manuel Mendes da Fonseca (1785–1859) and Rosa Maria Paulina da Fonseca (1802–1873), he was the brother of
Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca and father of the future president of the
Brazilian republic
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
, named after him,
Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca
Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca (; 12 May 1855 – 9 September 1923) was a Brazilian field marshal and politician who served as the eighth president of Brazil between 1910 and 1914. He was a nephew of marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, the first president o ...
. He was also the brother of
Severiano Martins da Fonseca, the
Baron of Alagoa.
From a military family, he pursued a career as his father and six brothers, serving in the
Paraguayan War
The Paraguayan War (, , ), also known as the War of the Triple Alliance (, , ), was a South American war that lasted from 1864 to 1870. It was fought between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, the Empire of Brazil, and Uruguay. It wa ...
.
After the
Proclamation of the Republic he occupied the command of the army troops in
Salvador. Although brother of the new president, it took him along to join the new regime, only accepting it after news of the departure of the
Brazilian imperial family to Europe.
He was an amateur musician, having composed sacred and military songs (such as Polca do Regimento and mazurca Icamacuá). He was married to Rita Rodrigues Barbosa da Fonseca and is buried in the
Caju Cemetery.
President of the Province of Mato Grosso
He was president of the province of
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso ( – ) is one of the states of Brazil, the List of Brazilian states by area, third largest by area, located in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region. The state has 1.66% of the Brazilian population and is responsible ...
from July 5, 1875, to March 2, 1878, appointed by imperial letter of May 1, 1875.
Governor of Bahia
Bahia was one of the last states to join the new regime, succeeding several intervenors who, due to the unstable climate, did not last in the post. Appointed by brother President Hermes da Fonseca, he took over from Manuel Vitorino, who was indisposing with the federal government, staying only five months ahead of the post, stepping down for health reasons, passing the post to the vice-president,
Virgílio Clímaco Damásio.
He ruled Bahia from April 26 to September 14, 1890, a period in which he sought to calm tempers and consolidate the institutions of the new regime. He revoked several acts of his predecessor, including educational reform.
References
1824 births
1891 deaths
Governors of Bahia
Governors of Mato Grosso
Brazilian military personnel of the Paraguayan War
{{Brazil-politician-stub