The New International Encyclopædia/Feijó, Diogo Antonio

FEIJÓ, or FEIJÓO, fắ-zhō', Diogo Antonio (1784-1843). A Brazilian statesman. He was born at São Paulo, took holy orders in 1807, and was a priest in Parahyba, Campinas, and Itú. In 1822 he was appointed Deputy to the Cortes at Lisbon, but resigned from that body with four other Brazilian Deputies upon the declaration of Brazilian independence. As Deputy and representative of the Liberal Party (1826-33) he presented the bills proposing the reform of the municipalities and advocating the abolition of clerical celibacy. On July 4, 1831, he was appointed Minister of Justice, and served until July 20, 1832. He was regent during the minority of Pedro II., from October 12, 1835, to September 18, 1837, during which time his liberal policy was bitterly attacked by the Conservatives. Because of this opposition he finally resigned.