José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco

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