Joao Goulart

Quick Facts: Who was Joao Goulart?

Subject:

Joao Goulart

Known for:

Brazilian politician who served as the 24th President of Brazil from 1961 to 1964.

Born:

1918-03-01

Died:

1976-12-06

Century / Era:

1918s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

João Belchior Marques Goulart (1 March 1919 – 6 December 1976), commonly known as Jango, was a Brazilian politician who served as the 24th president of Brazil from 1961 until a military coup d'état deposed him in 1964. He was considered the last left-wing president of Brazil until Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2003. João Goulart was nicknamed Jango (pronounced [ˈʒɐ̃ɡu]), a common nickname for João in the south of Brazil. The Jânio Quadros–João Goulart presidential bid was thus called Jan–Jan (an amalgamation of Jânio and Jango). His childhood nickname was Janguinho (little Jango).

Career & Major Achievements

Years later, when he entered politics, he was supported and advised by Getúlio Vargas, and his friends and colleagues started to call him Jango. In his informality and affection, Getúlio Vargas also called him Janguinho. His grandfather, Belchior Rodrigues Goulart, descended from Portuguese immigrants from the Azores who arrived in Rio Grande do Sul in the second half of the 19th century. Goulart was born at Yguariaçá Farm, in Itacurubi, São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, on 1 March 1919. His parents were Vicentina Marques Goulart, a housewife, and Vicente Rodrigues Goulart, an estancieiro (a rancher who owned large rural properties) who had been a National Guard colonel fighting on the side of Governor Borges de Medeiros during the 1923 Revolution.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Most sources indicate that João was born in 1918, but his birth year is actually 1919; his father ordered a second birth certificate adding a year to his son's age so that he could attend the law school at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Yguariaçá Farm was isolated and his mother had no medical care at his birth, only the assistance of her mother, Maria Thomaz Vasquez Marques. According to João's sister Yolanda, "my grandmother was the one able to revive little João who, at birth, already looked like he was dying." Like most Azorean descendants, Maria Thomaz was a devout Catholic. While trying to revive her grandson, warming him, she prayed to John the Baptist, promising that if the newborn survived, he would be his namesake and would not cut his hair until the age of three, when he would march in the procession of 24 June dressed as the saint. Following the beliefs of the region, his mother dressed him in women's clothes in his first year of life (cf. breeching).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1918 (1918-03-01): Birth of Joao Goulart — Brazilian politician who served as the 24th President of Brazil from 1961 to 1964.
2. 1919: 1919 Milestone — João Belchior Marques Goulart (1 March 1919 – 6 December 1976), commonly known as Jango, was a Brazilian politician who served as the 24th president of Brazil from 1961 until a military coup d'état deposed him in 1964.
3. 1923: 1923 Milestone — His parents were Vicentina Marques Goulart, a housewife, and Vicente Rodrigues Goulart, an estancieiro (a rancher who owned large rural properties) who had been a National Guard colonel fighting on the side of Governor Borges de Medeiros during the 1923 Revolution.
4. 1976 (1976-12-06): Passing & Historical Legacy — Joao Goulart passed away on 1976-12-06, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
5. 2003: 2003 Milestone — He was considered the last left-wing president of Brazil until Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2003.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Joao Goulart

True or False: “João Goulart was the first left-wing president of Brazil until Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2003.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The text states he was considered the last left-wing president until Lula da Silva took office in 2003, but it does not confirm him as the absolute first.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdul Hamid II — Contemporary (Died in 1918) (1918): Last effective Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, navigating decline and constitutional upheaval.
• Abraham Pais — Contemporary (Born in 1918) (1918): Pioneering physicist and acclaimed science historian of modern physics.
• Adolfo Pedernera — Contemporary (Born in 1918) (1918): Argentine football legend, nicknamed 'El Maestro,' pivotal in the 1940s.
• A Day at the Races (album) — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
• Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani — Contemporary (Died in 1976) (1976): Bangladeshi statesman and founder of the Awami League, known for advocating for the poor.
• Abiy Ahmed — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Ethiopian Prime Minister known for sweeping reforms and Nobel Peace Prize.
• 6th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (03-01 · Born) (1683): The 6th Dalai Lama, a spiritual figure known for his unconventional lifestyle and profound influence in Tibet.
• Abdus Sattar (president) — Shared historical date (03-01 · Born) (1906): Bangladeshi statesman who served as President of Bangladesh (1981-1982).
• Afonso I of Portugal — Shared historical date (12-06 · Died) (1185): The first King of Portugal, founder of the independent Portuguese Kingdom.
• Agnes Moorehead — Shared historical date (12-06 · Born) (1900): Iconic American actress celebrated for stage, film, and television roles.
• 1918 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1918
• March 1 (03-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 1
• 1976 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1976
• December 6 (12-06) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 6

Frequently Asked Questions about Joao Goulart