João Maurício Vanderlei, Baron of Cotegipe
João Maurício Vanderlei or Wanderley, first and only baron of Cotegipe, was a Brazilian magistrate and politician of the Conservative Party.
Born as the son of João Maurício Vanderlei, a Dutch descendant, and Francisca Antónia do Livramento, of Portuguese ancestry.
He graduated from the University of Olinda in 1837 with a bachelor's degree in Law and was Marine Minister, Farm Minister, External Minister and Justice Minister of Brazil. He was also President of the Senate of Brazil from 1881 to 1885, and President of the Council of Ministers from 1885 until 1888 and president of the Banco do Brasil.
Wanderley was responsible for the approvement of the Saraiva-Cotegipe Law in 1885, which granted freedom to slaves who were older than 60 years old.
He was dismissed from his post by Princess Isabel during her third regency in 1888. Months later, as a senator, he was the only one to vote against the approval of the Golden Law, which abolished slavery. He is assigned the dialogue with the Princess where he says: "Your Highness released a race but lost the throne" to which the Princess promptly replied: "A thousand thrones I had, a thousand thrones I would give to liberate the slaves of Brazil"
