The spread of entrepreneurial attitudes and ideas is a basic aspect of modernization, and it is the purpose of this chapter to examine some Brazilian entrepreneurs who were in close contact with the British. Not only is our understanding of some of the problems they faced at this early stage of development enhanced by a consideration of their business activities, but their experience also suggests that businessmen often sought out foreign images to reinforce a position they had already assumed within Brazil. Thus the presence of the foreigner contributed to their success but was not its initial cause, which is not to say that they were not deeply affected by the British. Special attention will be paid to these four: Irineu Evangelista de Souza, barão and later visconde de Mauá (1813–89); the Rebouças brothers, André (1838–98) and Antônio (1839–74); and Luís Tarqüínio (1844–1903). In addition, reference will be made to several other businessmen who were in contact with the British to a lesser extent.

Mauá was a representative of an older generation already in their thirties by 1850. Although not alone, he was widely recognized as the leading industrial capitalist during the period before the Paraguayan War. At the age of thirteen he had begun working for Richard Carruthers, head of a large English importing firm. This was the turning point in his life: seven years later he became a partner in the firm. And the next year Carruthers retired to England, leaving the future visconde de Mauá, aged twenty-four, as manager of the Brazilian house, a position through which he amassed a large fortune.