Education
His elementary and secondary schooling was received under private tutors and at the Colegio Americano Gilreath in Recife.
Later he studied in the United States, earning the B.A. degree at Baylor University and in 1923 an M.A. at Columbia University.
Career
Upon returning to Brazil Freyre rapidly gained a position of leadership in political, educational, and literary circles. He was selected in 1946 as one of the men to help draft the new Brazilian constitution, and in the same year he was elected to a seat in the lower house of the Brazilian congress. He was honored with membership in various professional and scholarly societies.