José Vieira Couto de Magalhães

José Vieira Couto de Magalhães (Diamantina, November 1, 1837 - Rio de Janeiro, September 14, 1898) was a Brazilian politician, military, writer and folklorist.

Magalhães began his studies at Mariana Seminar. He studied mathematics at the Military Academy of Rio de Janeiro and attended the course in Field Artillery in London. He graduated from in law at São Paulo Law School in 1859.

Couto de Magalhães knew the interior of Brazil and was the initiator of steam navigation in the Brazilian Highlands. He has advised the State and MP for Goiás and Mato Grosso. He was president of the provinces of Goiás, January 8, 1863 to 5 April 1864, Pará, of July 29, 1864 to May 8, 1866, Mato Grosso, of February 2, 1867 a 13 April 1868 and São Paulo, from June 10 to November 16, 1889, during which the republic was proclaimed. Arrested and sent to Rio de Janeiro, Magalhães was released in recognition of his huge culture and actions of society for clearing the Brazilian backlands.

Magalhães spoke French, English, German, Italian, Tupi and numerous indigenous dialects. he was the one who started the folklore studies in Brazil, publishing O Selvagem (The Wild) (1876) and Testes de antropologia (Anthropology testing) (1894), among others.

He founded in 1885 the first astronomical observatory in the state of São Paulo, at his farm in Great Bridge on the River Tietê.

Couto de Magalhães is the patron in the following academies of letters:

The cities of Couto de Magalhães de Minas in Minas Gerais and Couto de Magalhães in are named after him.

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