ANCHIETA, José de. - Missionary, apostle of Brazil. Born at La Laguna (Canary Islands) on 19 March 1534, he studied at the University of Coimbra and, in 1551, entered the Society of Jesus; his already ruined health caused him to be sent, two years later, to the mission of Brazil. In 1554 the young religious was part of the group designated by the provincial Manuel de Nobrega for the founding of the Mission of São Paulo in the aldeia of Piratininga (hence, and because of the distinguished activity he later carried on there, he must be counted among the founders of the present city of São Paulo). A. remained there as a teacher of grammar, before going with Nobrega to negotiate peace between the Portuguese and the fierce Tamoios, whose incursions were paralyzing the development of the colony; A.'s stay among the barbarians at Iperoig, as a hostage, is in the history of colonial Brazil an episode of epic grandeur. Ordained a priest in 1566, A. was Nobrega's companion in the founding of Rio de Janeiro (1567), but was sent back as superior to the mission of São Vicente, which he governed until 1577, at the same time directing the conversion of the Tapuyas. As provincial with his seat at Bahia (1578-86), he governed the whole mission during the delicate period of transition from pioneer life to more stable forms of activity. But his strength was by then exhausted; he was still able to work as a missionary or superior at Rio de Janeiro and at Espiritu Santo, and he died in the odor of sanctity on 9 June 1591 at Reritiba (now A.). Recent historical research has been able to bring out more clearly the part that belongs to Nobrega as initiator and organizer of the Jesuits' work in Brazil; A. continues to personify their missionary and cultural effort, thanks to his tireless and versatile activity, to his fame as a saint and thaumaturge, to his gifts of mind and style that enabled him to give expression to the soul of Brazil.
His writings are in fact the first essays of Brazilian literature. To him is owed the first grammar of the Tupi language: Arte de grammatica de lingua mais usada na costa do Brasil (Coimbra 1495, reprints at Leipzig 1859 and 1874; a facsimile, edited by J. Platzmann, ibid. 1876), a dictionary, a catechism with dialogues on the mysteries in Guarani, sermons, poems, and plays on religious subjects in Portuguese, Latin, Tupi and Guarani. In his numerous letters and fragments the troubled life of the colony and of the mission is reflected with great vividness. The fourth centenary of his birth, in 1934, took on throughout Brazil the proportions of a national celebration.