Sidónio Bernardino Cardoso da Silva Pais was a Portuguese military leader politician and diplomat, the fourth President in 1918.
Background
He was the eldest child and son of Sidónio Alberto Marrocos Pais (Caminha, Nossa Senhora da Assunção, 1 November 1846 – Ferreira do Zêzere, Dornes, 27 August 1883), a Law Clerk and Public Notary in Caminha and later in Pedrógão Grande and Sertã of Barcelos New Christian Jewish ancestry (on his great-great-grandfather António Velho da Fonseca), and wife (m Caminha, Nossa Senhora da Assunção, 22 June 1871) Rita Júlia Cardoso da Silva (Caminha, Caminha, 29 August 1844 – Caminha, Caminha, 9 March 1919).
Career
He was known as the President-King. On 5 December 1917, he led an uprising against Afonso Costa"s Democratic Party government, and established an authoritarian regime and was elected President (unopposed) on 28 April 1918. He was murdered in central Lisbon, 11 days before Christmas 1918.
He was an army officer and taught mathematics at the Army School, and later, at the University of Coimbra.
He was ambassador in Berlin from 1912 until 1916, when Portugal joined the First World War on the Allied side. On 5 December 1917, he led an uprising against Afonso Costa"s Democratic Party government, and established an authoritarian regime.
He became the country"s 99th Prime Minister and was elected President (unopposed) on 28 April 1918. He also became the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 11 December 1917 until 9 May 1918.
His period in office was short but eventful.
Assassination He escaped a first assassination attempt, but fell victim to the second. On 14 December 1918 he was shot dead by José Júlio da Costa, at Rossio railway station, in Lisbon, when he was preparing to board a train to Porto. His plan had been to negotiate with the monarchist leaders of the Northern Military Juntas.
Membership
He became a member of Parliament in 1911, and from 12 November 1911 he was the 4th Minister of Finance for a short period.
