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| President of Portugal | |
| Order: | 1st |
|---|---|
| Term of Office | August 24, 1911 - May 26, 1915 |
| Predecessor: | Teófilo Braga (President of the Provisional Government) |
| Successor: | Teófilo Braga |
| Date of Birth | July 8, 1840 |
| Place of Birth: | Horta, Azores |
| Date of Death | March 5, 1917 |
| Place of Death: | Lisbon |
| Wife: | Lucrécia Furtado de Melo |
| Occupation: | Professor of Law Lecturer of English Lawyer |
| Political Party: | Republican (later Democratic) |
Manuel José de Arriaga Brum da Silveira, pron. IPA /mɐnu'ɛɫ dɨ ɐ'ʁiaɣɐ/, (1840 - 1917) was the first President of Portugal.
Arriaga was born in the city of Horta and died in Lisbon. He studied in the University of Coimbra from 1860 to 1865. Member of the Portuguese Republican Party, he belonged to its directory before 31 January 1891. He was also elected deputy of the Republican Party for the Island of Madeira, in 1882, a post that he would occupy until 1892. He made amazing speeches that contribued greatly to the Republican Party. Unlike other Republicans, he always had a good relation with the Catholic Church.
When elected President, in the year of 1911, he tried to reunite the Republican Party, that had split in many different parties. He couldn't do it, specially because his mandate was atribulated by the Monarchic revolts of Captain Paiva Couceiro. He was replaced as President by Prof. Teófilo Braga in 1915. He died in Lisbon two years later. Manuel de Arriaga was President during the Portuguese participation in World War I. As said above, he couldn't unite the Parties to fight the War and solve the economical problems. The Parliament was closed and accused Manuel de Arriaga of being corrupt. In 1915, Pimenta de Castro's dictatorship ended with the revolt of the Constitucionalist Party. Twelve days later, Manuel de Arriaga abdicated.