Black History: Special Delivery!!
Andre Reboucas was born in 1838 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was the son of a former slave and a Portuguese tailor. Reboucas was educated at the Military School of Rio de Janeiro and became an engineer after completing studies in Europe. He became famous in Rio de Janeiro for improving water supply to the city, bringing it from fountain heads outside the town. In 1864, Reboucas was named a lieutenant during the Paraguayan War. Naval warfare played a significant role in this military conflict. Reboucas designed an immersible device which could be projected under water, causing an explosion with any ship it hit. The device became known as the torpedo.
After his military service Reboucas began teaching at the Polytechnical School in Rio de Janeiro. He became very wealthy and used his finances to aid in the Brazilian abolition movement to end slavery there. He eventually moved to Funchal Madeira off the coast of Africa. He died there in 1898.
January 27, 2018 at 3:37 pm
I was looking for “black inventor Brazilian” and Reboucas appeared in the search. Thank you for the information. THis will add some variety to the usual Black History Month biography or profile.
January 27, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Thanks for checking out the blog! I love sharing some lesser known black history facts!!
February 13, 2019 at 9:12 am
Thank you so much for the information on Andre know I know almost everything about him!!!!!!!????
February 13, 2019 at 9:13 am
Thank you for checking out the Black Mail Blog!