DIAS Vieira, Joao Pedro, Brazilian statesman. born in Guimaraes, 30 March 1820; died 30 October 1870. He studied law at Maranhao, and was admitted to the bar at Sao Paolo. In 1842 He was appointed district attorney for the capital of his province; but, as he soon afterward entered polities in the liberal party, at that time in the opposition, he had to resign this office, in 1846, under a change of ministry, he was again appointed district attorney for Hapicuramirim, and elected soon afterward a member of the provincial assembly of Maranhao, where he distinguished himself by his moderation and as an orator, and exercised great influence in the government of the province. In 1852 he was appointed attorney general of the provincial treasury, and, two years later, general director of public lands of the province, and occupied, at the same time, the chairs of philosophy, rhetoric, and geography in the seminary of the bishopric. He was appointed governor of the province of Amazonas in 1855, and filled this place until 4 January 1857, when he was elected deputy to the Chamber of representatives, and became in 1860 deputy general for his province. From 1858 he interested himself in steam navigation on the rivers, and in the chamber obtained the protection of the national government for it. On 15 January 1864, he was appointed minister of the navy, and on 15 March minister for foreign affairs. A new ministry was formed on 31 August but only a few days passed before Dias Vieira was again called to take charge of the portfolio of foreign affairs. The country was involved in a foreign war, and Dias's activity was so great that, within nine months, the nation, which at the beginning of the war had not a single ship, found itself in the possession of a powerful fleet and a well-disciplined army. Dias Vieira was rewarded with the title of imperial councilor and other distinctions. He left no estate, and the government gave his widow a pension of 2,200 milreis.