1954 in Brazil

Events in the year 1954 in Brazil.

Incumbents

Alagoas: Antônio Guedes de Miranda
Ceará: Stênio Gomes da Silva (until 30 June)
Espírito Santo: Francisco Alves Ataíde
Goiás: Jonas Ferreira Alves Duarte (until 1 July)
Maranhão: Renato Bayma Archer da Silva
Mato Grosso: João Leite de Barros
Minas Gerais: Clóvis Salgado da Gama
Paraíba: João Fernandes de Lima
Piauí:
- Tertuliano Milton Brandão (until 25 March)
- Francisco Ferreira de Castro (from 25 March)
Rio de Janeiro:
- Tarcísio Miranda (until 25 March)
- Roberto Silveira (from 25 March)
Rio Grande do Norte: Vacant
São Paulo:
- Erlindo Salzano (until 31 January)
- Porfírio da Paz (from 31 January)
Sergipe: Edelzio Vieira de Melo

August 5: An assassination is attempted against journalist and politician Carlos Lacerda outside his home at 180 Rua Tonelero, where he and one of his bodyguards are injured. Air Force major Rubens Florentino (serving as Lacerda's bodyguard) is killed. That same day, further investigations uncover the involvement of a member of President Getúlio Vargas' security are involved in the assassination attempt.^[1]^[2]^[3]
August 8: Gregório Fortunato, head of Vargas' personal security, confesses to masterminding the assassination attempt. The Air Force take charge of the investigations and Fortunato is apprehended.^[4]
August 22: 19 Brazilian Army generals sign a manifesto demanding Vargas' resignation.^[5]^[6]
August 23: President Vargas meets with his ministers to analyze the political crisis that arose after the attack. It is decided that Vargas will go on leave until the end of the investigations.^[7]
August 24: The military do not accept Vargas' agreement and demand for his resignation. At the Catete Palace, President of Brazil Getúlio Vargas commits suicide by shooting himself in the heart. Vice President Café Filho becomes the 18th President of Brazil.^[8]