15 Facts About Bernardino Machado

Bernardino Luiz Machado Guimaraes was the 3th and 8th president of Portugal, serving from 1915 to 1917 and again from 1925 to 1926.

Bernardino Machado was born in Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil, the son of Antonio Luis Machado Guimaraes, 1st Baron of Joane and a nobleman of the royal household, a rich merchant raised to the nobility, and his second wife Praxedes de Sousa Guimaraes.

Bernardino Machado came to Portugal in 1860, enrolled at Coimbra University in 1866, studied mathematics for three years, and graduated in philosophy in 1873.

Bernardino Machado continued his studies, obtaining a doctorate in philosophy in 1876 and graduated in general agriculture and rural economy in 1883.

Bernardino Machado began in politics from a young age, by the leader of the Regenerator Party, Fontes Pereira de Melo.

In February 1893, Bernardino Machado joined the first ministry of Hintze Ribeiro, as Minister of Public Works, Commerce and Industry, presenting his resignation in December of that same year.

Bernardino Machado had an important career as leader of Freemasonry.

Bernardino Machado was briefly President of the Directory of the Democratic Party in 1902, and after switching to the Republican Party, was this party's President of the Directory from 1906 to 1909.

Bernardino Machado was one of the few monarchists-turned-republican who switched during the monarchy.

The diplomatic mission was promoted to embassy in November 1913, with Bernardino Machado being the first Portuguese ambassador to that country.

Bernardino Machado was called to set up an extrapartisan ministry, in order to appease the heated political sentiments, foreseeing in his program a truce proposal to monarchists, trade unionists and Catholics, to whom he promised a revision of the religious segregation law.

Bernardino Machado ran again for the presidency in 1915 and was this time elected President of Portugal.

In 1917 the government was deposed by a military coup headed by Sidonio Pais, and Bernardino Machado went into exile.

Bernardino Machado served as Prime Minister from 2 March to 23 May 1921.

In 1906, Bernardino Machado was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.