Lauro Müller

Lauro Severiano Müller (8 November 1863 – 30 July 1926) was a Brazilian politician, diplomat, and military engineer. Responsible for the transition of Santa Catarina from a province to a state, he is also recognised as one of those who helped achieve the Brazilian diplomatic victory over Bolivia through the Treaty of Petrópolis, which allowed for the purchase of Acre and its incorporation into Brazil.

For the city in Santa Catarina, see Lauro Müller, Santa Catarina.
Lauro Müller
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
14 February 1912 – 7 May 1917
PresidentHermes da Fonseca
Venceslau Brás
Preceded byBaron of Rio Branco
Succeeded byNilo Peçanha
Other offices held
Minister of Transport
In office
15 November 1902 – 15 November 1906
PresidentRodrigues Alves
Preceded byAntônio Augusto da Silva
Succeeded byMiguel Calmon
President of Santa Catarina
In office
28 September 1902 – 6 March 1905
Vice PresidentVidal Ramos
Preceded byFilipe Schmidt
Succeeded byVidal Ramos
In office
2 December 1889 – 28 December 1891
On leave: 29 June 1890 – 10 November 1891
Vice PresidentGustavo Richard
Preceded byOliveira Belo II
Succeeded byManuel Joaquim Machado
Senator for Santa Catarina
In office
28 September 1917 – 30 June 1926
Preceded byAbdon Batista
Succeeded byPereira Oliveira
In office
2 May 1907 – 31 December 1911
Preceded byGustavo Richard
Succeeded byHercílio Luz
In office
3 May 1900 – 30 December 1902
Preceded byRaulino Horn
Succeeded byFilipe Schmidt
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
15 November 1890 – 22 November 1899
ConstituencySanta Catarina
Personal details
Born(1863-11-08)8 November 1863
Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Died30 June 1926(1926-06-30) (aged 62)
Rio de Janeiro, Federal District, Brazil
Signature

Müller occupied the 34th chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters from 1912 until his death in 1926.

Biography

Born in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, he was the son of the German immigrants Peter Müller and Anna Michels, originally from the Rhineland. On his mother's side, his first cousin was Filipe Schmidt, who also served two terms as President of Santa Catarina. A passionate follower of Benjamin Constant's positivism in his youth, he embarked on a military career in his native province after a brief stint in a merchant's office.

His political career began in 1889, when the first President of Brazil, Deodoro da Fonseca, made him President of Santa Catarina and charged him with organising the province that had been transformed into a state.

Later, he served as a federal deputy, senator (1899–1926), member of the Academy of Letters (1912–1926), and minister of state. He carried out great reforms while holding the ministerial portfolios of Industry, Transport and Public Works, during the presidency of Rodrigues Alves. As Minister of Foreign Affairs a post he assumed in 1912 upon the untimely death of the Barão do Rio Branco, he pursued economic integration with Argentina and Chile. He was forced to resign in 1917 because Brazil had entered World War I on the side of the Allies, and anti-German sentiment created opposition to him due to his German roots. He was elected President of Santa Catarina again in 1918, but preferred to remain a senator.

During an official visit to the U.S. as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was offered the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by Harvard University. He was also made an honorary samurai on an official visit to Japan.

The positions he held in his long political career include: Member of the Constitutional Assembly Member of Congress Governor of the State Minister of Public Works General of the Army Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator of the Republic

He became popular for his important public works, such as the construction of Rio de Janeiro's Avenida Central, today Avenida Rio Branco, and improvements to that city's port. He died in Rio in 1926.

References
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