Humberto de Alencar Castello Branco

Infobox_President
name=Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco
nationality=Brazilian


term_start=April 15, 1964
term_end=March 15, 1967
predecessor=Pascoal Ranieri Mazzilli
successor=Artur da Costa e Silva
birth_date=birth date|1900|9|20|mf=y
birth_place=Fortaleza, Ceará
death_date=death date and age|1967|7|18|1900|9|20|mf=y
death_place=Messejana, Ceará
spouse=
party=None
religion=Roman Catholic
order=29th President of Brazil
vicepresident=José Maria Alkmim

Field Marshal Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, pron. IPA2|ũ'bɛxtu dʒi alẽ'kax kas'tɛlu 'bɾʌ͂ku (September 20, 1900 - July 18, 1967) was a
Brazilian military leader and politician. Castelo Branco entered the Brazilian Army in 1918 and was a colonel in the Brazilian Expeditionary Force during World War II. Appointed Chief of Staff of the Army by President João Goulart in 1963, he became one of the leaders of the coup d'etat of March 31, 1964 that overthrew Goulart. Elected president by the Congress, he took the oath of office on April 15, 1964 and served until March 15, 1967. During his term, Castelo Branco dismantled the left wing of Congress, abolished all existing political parties, and replaced them with only two: the government's party, called the "National Renewal Alliance Party" (ARENA) and the opposition's "Brazilian Democratic Movement" (MDB). He promoted government intervention into the economy (e.g. shutting down by decree the country's flag carrier, Panair do Brasil) and tributary reforms, and was succeeded by his war minister Marshal Artur da Costa e Silva. Shortly after leaving the presidency, he died in an air crash near Fortaleza.

ee also

* 1964 Brazilian coup d'état
* List of Presidents of Brazil
* History of Brazil (1964-present)