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Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena (Santa Bárbara, November 30, 1847 – Rio de Janeiro, June 14, 1909) was a Brazilian political figure, president between 1906 and 1909. Before the political career, Pena was lawyer, jurist and member of Brazi's Supreme Court.
His first political mandate was in 1874, as a congressman. Following the election, Pena has to conciliate the legislative work with some periods occupying federal secretaries — secretary of Agriculture (1882), Commerce and Public Issues (1883) and Justice(1885). Then Pena presided the state legislative assembly of Minas Gerais.
He was governor of Minas Gerais between 1892 and 1894. It was during his government that Belo Horizonte was set for future state capital (which tahta time was Ouro Preto).
In 1902 Pena became vice-president to Francisco e Paula Rodrigues Alves. In the following election, he was elected president (1906), serving until his death in 1909, few days after the passing of his son Álvaro Pena.
Afonso Pena was the first president to promote the intervencionism on coffee's economy. The federal government started to buy production surplus, mantaining the high prices on international markets. Promoted railroads expansion.
The reorganization of Brazil's national army was done by Hermes da Fonseca, during Pena's presidency. The president also supported Cândido Rondon in his expeditions do Amazonas.
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