Manuel de Arriaga
(1840-1917)
Manuel José de Arriaga Brum da Silveira e Peyrelongue, one of the founders of the Republican Party, was the first constitutionally elected President of the Portuguese Republic.
Manuel José de Arriaga Brum da Silveira e Peyrelongue was born on 8 July 1840 in the city of Horta (Azores).
From a monarchist family, he embraced republican ideals while studying law at Coimbra between 1861 and 1866, and again between 1872 and 1875. Elected a member of parliament in 1882, he was one of the authors of the Portuguese Republican Party Programme in 1891.
After the proclamation of the Republic on 5 October 1910, he was appointed Attorney General of the Republic and Rector of the University of Coimbra. On 24 August 1911, he became President of the Republic, elected by the National Constituent Assembly. His term was marked by political instability, the closure of Parliament, and successive revolts, leading to his resignation on 29 May 1915.
He died in Lisbon on 5 March 1917. His remains were transferred to the National Pantheon in 2004.