Paulino Soares de Sousa, 1st Viscount of Uruguai explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency
The Viscount of Uruguai
Order:Minister of Foreign Affairs
Term Start:8 October 1849
Term End:6 September 1853
Predecessor:Marquess of Olinda
Successor:Viscount of Abaeté
Term Start2:8 June 1843
Term End2:2 February 1844
Predecessor2:Marquess of Paraná
Birth Date:4 October 1807
Birth Place:Paris, French Empire
Death Place:Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil
Occupation:Politician
Party:Conservative Party (1836-1866)

Paulino José Soares de Sousa, the Viscount of Uruguai (4 October 1808 – 15 July 1866), was a congressman, a senator, a State Councillor and a skilful diplomat.[1]

Born in Paris, he distinguished himself during the 1850s when, as Minister of Foreign Affairs for Brazil, he organized the Brazilian Diplomatic Corps and structured the entire Brazilian policy of intervention in the River Plate against Juan Manuel de Rosas from Argentina, and Manuel Oribe from Uruguay.

A cautious diplomat, he knew how to take advantage of favourable circumstances, excluding unilateral action by Brazil and acting only at the request of the constitutional governments in the region. Success also came from his part in Franco-English involvement. He took on the financial burden incurred by France in maintaining the government of Montevideo and in relation to England, took steps towards the abolition of the slave traffic, creating favourable conditions for involvement by Brazil and its allies. In Paris in 1855 he negotiated the issue of Brazilian borders with French Guiana, which resulted in the matter being finally resolved in 1900, by the Baron of Rio Branco.

The Viscount died in Rio de Janeiro, aged 58.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paulino José Soares de Souza . pt . . 2015-05-03 . 2024-01-26 .