José Maria da Silva Paranhos Júnior

José Maria da Silva Paranhos Júnior, the Barão do Rio Branco, went to the United States in 1893 to present Brazil’s case in its boundary arbitration with Argentina. He prepared a memorial submitted in 1894 and remained in Washington until the award. On 5 February 1895, President Grover Cleveland accepted the river boundary claimed by Brazil. Rio Branco’s assignment was a special arbitration mission. ^{1, 2}

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1845, he was the son of the statesman José Maria da Silva Paranhos, the Visconde do Rio Branco. The son studied law, collected historical and geographical material, served in the legislature, and became consul at Liverpool. His own title of baron, granted in 1888, distinguished him from his father, the viscount. ¹

After the Washington award, Rio Branco lived in Paris and later handled Brazil’s boundary case with France before Swiss arbitration. Domício da Gama, who had worked with him on the American mission, assisted him again. A posting to Berlin preceded his appointment as Brazilian foreign minister in 1902. He held that office until his death in 1912. ¹