Adelaide de Morais Barros

Barros met Prudente de Morais in her home city of Piracicaba in São Paulo, where he had become a lawyer. They married in her parents' home on 28 May 1866, with the nuptials being a major social event of the time, partly because it was a double ceremony, with her twin sister, Maria Inês, marrying Manuel de Morais Barros [pt], the brother of Prudente de Morais, who was later elected as a senator. For Morais, who was already an ambitious politician, the marriage to Adelaide provided an entrance into the political elite of São Paulo. The couple had nine children. One of the daughters died at the age of 11 and another when she was just one year old. Barros also raised the illegitimate son of Prudente de Morais, born before they were married.^[1][2][5]

Barros was described by newspapers as a "virtuous" mother and wife who was "sweet and serene". Her husband became president on 15 November 1894. Prudente de Morais ended the so-called "Republic of the Sword" and moved fellow coffee producers into a central position of power in the country. As did others in her family, Barros became friendly with the American Methodist missionary Martha Watts, who founded, among other institutions, the Colégio Piracicabano  [pt], where the children of Barros studied.^[5]

Her husband died in December 1902. Her own poor health led her to seek medical treatment in Berlin, Germany, where she died on 8 November 1911. Her body was returned to Brazil and buried in the Saudade Cemetery of Piracicaba.^[1][2][3]