Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena Júnior was a Brazilian lawyer, professor, politician and essayist. He was born in Santa Bárbara, Minas Gerais on December 25, 1879. He was the son of former President of the Republic Afonso Moreira Pena, and Maria Guilhermina de Oliveira Pena. He did his primary studies in Ouro Preto and studied humanities at the famous Colégio do Caraça. He took preparatory exams at the Ginásio de Barbacena. He graduated from the Faculty of Law of Belo Horizonte in 1902. In his youth, he belonged to literary groups in Belo Horizonte, with suggestive symbolic names like Jardineiros do Ideal and Cavaleiros do Luar and indulged in symbolist poetry. He devoted himself to teaching and politics. He was professor of law at the Faculty of Law of Belo Horizonte and he also served as Secretary of the Interior of the State of Minas Gerais. Elected state deputy in two legislatures (1902-1907 and 1908–1912), he resigned to dedicate himself to the memorable Campanha civilista of 1910, fighting against the candidacy of Marechal Hermes da Fonseca. Invited by President Artur Bernardes, he returned to the State Chamber as leader. Later he was a legal consultant for Banco do Brasil; Professor of Civil Law at the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro; Judge of the Superior Court of Electoral Justice and Minister of Justice. He was a member of the Brazilian Institute of Education, Science and Culture and rector of the University of the Federal District. He wrote the book A Arte de Furtar e seu autor, the result of lengthy research on Antonio de Sousa Macedo. Studying the enigma of the authorship of Cartas Chilenas, he wrote the preface to Professor Rodrigues Lapa's book, reaching the conclusion that the author was Tomás Antônio Gonzaga. He wrote several texts and essays for the magazine Digesto Econômico from São Paulo. He was the fourth occupant of Chair 7 of the Brazilian Academy of Letters, to which he was elected on May 22, 1947, succeeding Afrânio Peixoto. He was received on August 14, 1948, by Academician Alceu Amoroso Lima. Afonso Pena Junior died in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, on April 12, 1968. References Brazilian writers 1879 births 1968 deaths