António Vieira

António Vieira - Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Date: 2007
(born Feb. 6, 1608, Lisbon, Port.—died July 18, 1697, Salvador, Braz.)

Portuguese-born Brazilian missionary, orator, diplomat, and writer. He was raised in Brazil, where he became a Jesuit priest. His sermons exhorting all races to join in repelling Dutch invaders are considered the first expression of the Brazilian concept of forming a new race of mixed blood. He worked among the Indians and black slaves until 1641, mastering several of their languages. Returning to Portugal, he became an important figure in the court of John IV, where he advocated toleration for Jewish converts to Christianity. He was imprisoned by the Inquisition (1665–67) but returned to Brazil in 1681.Copyright 1994-2007 Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.