GUILHERME SCHÜCH OF CAPANEMA, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN 19TH CENTURY BRAZIL: A BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORICAL WINDOW

Guilherme Schüch, baron of Capanema (1824-1906), was born in Minas Gerais, son of Roque Schüch, librarian and director of the Cabinet of Natural History of the Empress of Brazil, Leopoldina of Habsburg. He studied mining engineering in Vienna and at the Bergakademie Freiberg (Saxony), and upon his return to Brazil he held a Doctor's degree in Physical Sciences and Mathematics by the Military School at Rio de Janeiro - which was the main school of engineering in Brazil at that time. There he also lectured mathematics, mineralogy and geology, besides being initially in charge of the laboratory of physics. Since his return to Brazil, still quite young, he attended the scientific sessions of the Brazilian Historical and Geographical Institute (IHGB) and became one of the most active members all long his life. He was also honored with several distinctions, such as the medals of the Orders of the Rose and Christ, Honorary Major of the Army and Counselor to the Emperor (with whom he was proud to share his personal friendship). He left the Military School to coordinate the Electrical Telegraph Service, what he did until 1889, when the Brazilian Republican Regime started. During his life he also got involved with the foundation in 1862 of the Polytechnic Institute, an institutional locus entirely devoted to engineering and engineers. Capanema was the owner of a paper industry, too, called Fábrica Orianda. This paper will focus on the professional and academic life of Schüch de Capanema to discuss how his life and prominent activities to develop a modern technical and scientific culture might through light on our understanding of Brazilian history in 19th century.