João de Deus Mena Barreto

João de Deus Mena Barreto (Porto Alegre, 30 July 1874 – Rio de Janeiro, 25 March 1933) was a Brazilian general and politician that acted as one of the leaders of the military junta that governed Brazil in 1930 during the period in which president Washington Luís was deposed by the Brazilian Revolution of 1930 and his elected successor, Júlio Prestes, was prevented from taking office.

Divisional General João de Deus Mena Barreto
Member of the Brazilian Military Junta
In office 24 October 1930 – 3 November 1930 Interim President of Brazil Serving with Isaías de Noronha, Tasso Fragoso
Vice President	None
Preceded by	Washington Luís
Succeeded by	Getúlio Vargas
Personal details
Born	(1874-07-30)30 July 1874 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Empire of Brazil
Died	25 March 1933(1933-03-25) (aged 58) Rio de Janeiro, Federal District, Brazil
Spouse(s)	Ernestina Estela de Noronha
Alma mater	Escola Militar da Praia Vermelha
Occupation	Military officer
Military service
Allegiance	Brazil
Branch/service	Brazilian Army
Years of service	1890–1933

On his paternal side, Barreto was a member of a traditional Brazilian family in Rio Grande do Sul, whose family members had a long and ancient tradition of joining the military and achieving high ranks: the Mena Barreto family. On his mother's side, he belonged to a traditional Brazilian family in Rio Grande do Sul, holders of large portions of land in the state's border region: the Oliveira Mello family.[1]

He was the son of José Luís Mena Barreto and Rita de Cássia de Oliveira Mello, and was the only male in the couple's four children. At the age of five, he lost his father, and in 1890, when he turned 16, he began his military career. He attended the Military School in Porto Alegre, until 1893. After leaving the school, he fought in the Federalist Revolution on the government's side until 1895. In 1898, he joined the Praia Vermelha Military School, in Rio de Janeiro.[2]