Francisco de Sales Torres Homem
Encyclopedia
Francisco de Sales Torres Homem, Viscount of Inhomirim (January 29, 1812 – June 3, 1876), was a physician, lawyer, journalist, romantic
writer, deputy, senator, top officer of the National Treasury, president of the Bank of Brazil
and Minister of Treasury. Only afrobrazilian that has ever been in charge of the economy of Brazil
throughout its history
.
, Brazil
. His father, Apolinário Torres Homem, was a shady businessman, married to María Patrícia, a mulatto
traveling market salesman, nicknamed You kill me.
After finishing his career in medicine at the Medical-Surgical Academy at Rio de Janeiro in 1832, he became enrolled by Evaristo Ferreira da Veiga at the Society for the Defense of Freedom and National Independence, a political group related to the moderate liberal party, and asked to write political articles for some journals. At first he was unwilling to perform these duties, according to him because he lacked knowledge and interest on politics; however, Ferreira da Veiga made him change his mind after prasing him his first article written for the journal Aurora Fluminense. He later travels to Paris
to study law, with a focus on political economy.
He maintained a close friendship since childhood with Gonçalves de Magalhães
, who made him get into the Historical Institute of Paris to write a dissertation in 1834 along with poet Manuel de Araújo Porto-alegre
on the state of sciences in Brazil entitled Resumo da História da Literatura, das Ciências e das Artes no Brasil por três brasileiros, membros do Instituto Histórico (Brief Resume on the History of Literature, Sciences and Arts in Brazil by three Brazilians, members of the Historical Institute). In 1836, along with Gonçalves de Magalhães, Araújo Porto-alegre and João Manuel Pereira da Silva, he creates Niterói, a journal considered the initial landmark of the literary romantic movement of Brazil.
In 1837 he returns to Brazil. He writes for the Journal of Political and Literary Debates (Jornal dos Debates Políticos e Literários) from 1837 to 1838; his peers from France also collaborated in this journal. Jornal dos Debates was a journal which reflected the liberal thought opposed to regent Diogo Feijó's government, having a considerable influence of its writing on the people. Torres Homem went later one to write for other journals: Despertador (1838 – 1841) and Maiorista (1838 – 1841).
In 1842 he joined the Society of Invisible Patriarchs, a secret revolutionary organization that took up arms against the monarchy. Because of this, Torres Homem was sent to exile for some months in Portugal
.
In politics, Torres Homem became a deputy for Ceará
(1842-1844) and, later on, for Minas Gerais
(1845-1847) and Rio de Janeiro
(1848-1850).
In 1849, after being editor for a whole year of a newspaper called Correio Mercantil (Mercantile Post), he publishes in its pages his famous Libelo do Povo (People's Libel); by using Timandro as pen name, Torres Homem criticized the imperial House of Braganza
for the mismanagement of Brazil, provoking criticism against him by those who sympathized with the monarchy. His Libelo do povo was a liberal protest against the arbitrary measures used by the crown to suppress the liberal revolt of 1848 in Pernambuco
, and to prevent the fulfillment of the promise of independence, "social and political renovation." In 1852, after establishing a Conciliation Ministry, the attacks diminished; however, Torres Homem maintained himself as firm opposition to the regime.
From December 12, 1858 to October 10, 1859, he became Minister of Treasury. As such, he was considered metalist
by being firm defender of monetary restriction and a coin backed by gold. By 1870 he arrives to the Senate where he defends freedom for all slave's children, which earned him a year later, the conferment of the Order of Christ, and later, the title of Viscount of Inhomirim.
During the final days of his life, sick with asthma, he again disobeyed the Empire by traveling abroad to treat himself without asking for license. He comes back to Brazil and retakes his legislative chores, but his health problems forces him to go to Paris
where he dies on June 3, 1876.
} State Ministers of Treasury Ministry of Treasury of Brazil
} Historia da literatura: Francisco de Sales Torres Homem Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
writer, deputy, senator, top officer of the National Treasury, president of the Bank of Brazil
Banco do Brasil
Banco do Brasil S.A. is the largest Brazilian and Latin American bank by assets, and the third by market value. The bank, headquartered in Brasília, was founded in 1808 and is the oldest active bank in Brazil — and one of the oldest financial institutions in the world.Banco do Brasil is controlled...
and Minister of Treasury. Only afrobrazilian that has ever been in charge of the economy of Brazil
Economy of Brazil
The economy of Brazil is the world's seventh largest by nominal GDP and eighth largest by purchasing power parity. Brazil has moderately free markets and an inward-oriented economy...
throughout its history
Economic history of Brazil
The economic history of Brazil covers various economic events and traces the changes in the Brazilian economy over the course of the history of Brazil. Portugal, which first colonized the area in the 16th century, enforced a colonial pact with Brazil, an imperial mercantile policy, which drove...
.
Biography
Francisco de Sales Torres Homem was born on January 29, 1812 at Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. His father, Apolinário Torres Homem, was a shady businessman, married to María Patrícia, a mulatto
Mulatto
Mulatto denotes a person with one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry. Contemporary usage of the term varies greatly, and the broader sense of the term makes its application rather subjective, as not all people of mixed white and black...
traveling market salesman, nicknamed You kill me.
After finishing his career in medicine at the Medical-Surgical Academy at Rio de Janeiro in 1832, he became enrolled by Evaristo Ferreira da Veiga at the Society for the Defense of Freedom and National Independence, a political group related to the moderate liberal party, and asked to write political articles for some journals. At first he was unwilling to perform these duties, according to him because he lacked knowledge and interest on politics; however, Ferreira da Veiga made him change his mind after prasing him his first article written for the journal Aurora Fluminense. He later travels to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to study law, with a focus on political economy.
He maintained a close friendship since childhood with Gonçalves de Magalhães
Gonçalves de Magalhães
Domingos José Gonçalves de Magalhães, Viscount of Araguaia was a Brazilian poet, playwright, medician and diplomat...
, who made him get into the Historical Institute of Paris to write a dissertation in 1834 along with poet Manuel de Araújo Porto-alegre
Manuel de Araújo Porto-alegre
Manuel José de Araújo Porto-alegre, Baron of Santo Ângelo was a Brazilian Romantic writer, painter, architect, diplomat and professor. He is patron of the 32nd chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters.-Life:...
on the state of sciences in Brazil entitled Resumo da História da Literatura, das Ciências e das Artes no Brasil por três brasileiros, membros do Instituto Histórico (Brief Resume on the History of Literature, Sciences and Arts in Brazil by three Brazilians, members of the Historical Institute). In 1836, along with Gonçalves de Magalhães, Araújo Porto-alegre and João Manuel Pereira da Silva, he creates Niterói, a journal considered the initial landmark of the literary romantic movement of Brazil.
In 1837 he returns to Brazil. He writes for the Journal of Political and Literary Debates (Jornal dos Debates Políticos e Literários) from 1837 to 1838; his peers from France also collaborated in this journal. Jornal dos Debates was a journal which reflected the liberal thought opposed to regent Diogo Feijó's government, having a considerable influence of its writing on the people. Torres Homem went later one to write for other journals: Despertador (1838 – 1841) and Maiorista (1838 – 1841).
In 1842 he joined the Society of Invisible Patriarchs, a secret revolutionary organization that took up arms against the monarchy. Because of this, Torres Homem was sent to exile for some months in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
In politics, Torres Homem became a deputy for Ceará
Ceará
Ceará is one of the 27 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is currently the 8th largest Brazilian State by population and the 17th by area. It is also one of the main touristic destinations in Brazil. The state capital is the city of...
(1842-1844) and, later on, for Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
(1845-1847) and Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
(1848-1850).
In 1849, after being editor for a whole year of a newspaper called Correio Mercantil (Mercantile Post), he publishes in its pages his famous Libelo do Povo (People's Libel); by using Timandro as pen name, Torres Homem criticized the imperial House of Braganza
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
for the mismanagement of Brazil, provoking criticism against him by those who sympathized with the monarchy. His Libelo do povo was a liberal protest against the arbitrary measures used by the crown to suppress the liberal revolt of 1848 in Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, and to prevent the fulfillment of the promise of independence, "social and political renovation." In 1852, after establishing a Conciliation Ministry, the attacks diminished; however, Torres Homem maintained himself as firm opposition to the regime.
From December 12, 1858 to October 10, 1859, he became Minister of Treasury. As such, he was considered metalist
Metalist
Metalist may refer to:* FC Metalist Kharkiv, Ukrainian football club* Metalist Stadium, multi-purpose sport stadium in Kharkiv, Ukraine* Metadata, in some contexts referred to as a metalist or as a meta-list...
by being firm defender of monetary restriction and a coin backed by gold. By 1870 he arrives to the Senate where he defends freedom for all slave's children, which earned him a year later, the conferment of the Order of Christ, and later, the title of Viscount of Inhomirim.
During the final days of his life, sick with asthma, he again disobeyed the Empire by traveling abroad to treat himself without asking for license. He comes back to Brazil and retakes his legislative chores, but his health problems forces him to go to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he dies on June 3, 1876.
External links
- Online Sources
} State Ministers of Treasury Ministry of Treasury of Brazil
} Historia da literatura: Francisco de Sales Torres Homem Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul