---
node: sa_pedro_ii
type: person
slug: pedro_ii_of_brazil
title: "Pedro II of Brazil"
lead: "Pedro II (1825–1891) was the second and last emperor of Brazil, whose long reign brought stability and growth. He was deposed in 1889 when Brazil became a republic."
published: 2026-07-13
updated: 2026-07-13
---

## Who they were

Crowned as a boy after his father Pedro I abdicated, Pedro II ruled for nearly half a century from 1831. He presided over a period of relative political stability, economic expansion, and cultural progress.

## What they did

A learned and modest monarch, he supported science, education, and the arts, and moved gradually toward ending slavery. Brazil abolished slavery in 1888, during his reign.

## Legacy

A military coup deposed him in 1889 and proclaimed a republic, and he died in exile in France. He is often remembered fondly as a wise and dignified ruler.