Raul Fernandes (diplomat)

Fernandes was born in 1877 in Valença, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He studied law at the University of São Paulo, beginning his political career as a federal deputy before moving into diplomacy.^[2]

As a member of the Brazilian delegation to the 1919–1920 Paris Peace Conference following World War I, Fernandes signed the Treaty of Versailles.^[2] He subsequently led four delegations to the League of Nations and helped draft the statute creating the Permanent Court of International Justice.^[3]

Fernandes represented Brazil at the 1946 Paris Peace Conference following World War II, becoming the only man to serve as a delegate to both Paris Peace Conferences.^[3] From 1946 to 1951, and again from 1954 to 1955, he served as Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this role, he was the permanent chair of the Inter-American Conference of 1947 which resulted in the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance.^[1] He was an advocate of Pan-Americanism and closer ties with the United States.^[3]

Fernandes died on 6 January 1968 in Rio de Janeiro. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving signatory of the Treaty of Versailles.^[3][2]