Barão do Rio Branco

José Maria da Silva Paranhos Júnior, Baron of Rio Branco (Portuguese: Barão do Rio Branco; 20 April 1845 – 10 February 1912) was a Brazilian statesman, diplomat, geographer, historian, politician and professor, considered to be the "Patron of Brazilian diplomacy". Rio Branco was the son of statesman José Paranhos, Viscount of Rio Branco. As a representative of Brazil, he managed to peacefully resolve all the country's border disputes with its South American neighbours in the early 20th century, incorporating 900 thousand square kilometers (roughly 10% of Brazil's current territory) through his diplomacy alone. He was also a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, occupying its 34th chair from 1898 until his death in 1912.