Teófilo Braga

Joaquim Teófilo Fernandes Braga earned his law degree at the University of Coimbra and distinguished himself as a politician, writer, and essayist. As leader of the Republican Party, following the events of 5 October 1910, he assumed the presidency of the Government of the Portuguese Republic, a role he held until August 1911.

Joaquim Teófilo Fernandes Braga was born on 24 February 1843 in Ponta Delgada, in the Azores.

He pursued legal studies in Coimbra and, in 1872, commenced teaching modern literature at the Higher Course of Letters in Lisbon. A committed adherent of republican ideals, he was among the authors of the Portuguese Republican Party’s programme of 1891.

As a Republican leader, after the revolution of 5 October 1910, he once more took up the presidency of the Government of the Portuguese Republic, holding office until August 1911. Later, in May 1915, upon the resignation of Manuel de Arriaga, he was elected President of the Republic, a position he maintained until October of that same year. He dedicated the final years of his life exclusively to scholarly pursuits.

He died in Lisbon on 28 January 1924. His remains were transferred to the National Pantheon in 1966.