José de Araújo Ribeiro

José de Araújo Ribeiro (1800–1879), later Viscount of Rio Grande, trained in law at Coimbra and moved between diplomacy, provincial administration, and national politics. A native of what is now Barra do Ribeiro in Rio Grande do Sul, he served at Brazilian missions in Europe before becoming chargé d’affaires in Washington in 1829. His later diplomatic career included London, Lisbon, and Paris. ¹

In September 1829, Ribeiro asked Secretary of State Martin Van Buren to support Pedro I’s daughter Maria’s claim to Portugal’s throne and reject Dom Miguel’s envoy. Washington recognized Miguel, frustrating the Brazilian initiative. ²

On returning to Brazilian politics, he briefly governed Minas Gerais in 1833 and took up the presidency of Rio Grande do Sul at Rio Grande in January 1836, amid the province’s revolt; the provincial assembly disputed that installation. He represented Rio Grande do Sul in the Chamber and later held its Senate seat from 1848 until his death. His writings included Cartas Políticas and O Fim da Creação. Raffaelli also records testamentary gifts of freedom and money to people Ribeiro had enslaved. ^{1, 2}