José Vieira Couto de Magalhães

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = José Vieira Couto de Magalhães

| image = Júnior, José Ferraz de Almeida - Retrato do General José Couto de Magalhães.jpg

| caption = Portrait by Almeida Júnior, 1888

| birth_date = {{birth date|1837|11|1|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Diamantina, Empire of Brazil

| death_date = {{death date and age|1898|09|14|1837|11|1|df=yes}}

| death_place = Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

| signature =

| office1 = President of São Paulo

| successor1 = {{illm|Junta governativa paulista de 1889|pt|lt=1889 governative junta}}

| predecessor1 = {{illm|Antônio Pinheiro de Ulhoa Cintra|pt|lt=Antônio de Ulhoa Cintra}}

| term_start1 = 10 June 1889

| term_end1 = 16 November 1889

| office2 = President of Mato Grosso

| successor2 = {{illm|João Batista de Oliveira|pt}}

| predecessor2 = {{illm|Albano de Sousa Osório|pt}}

| term_start2 = 2 February 1867

| term_end2 = 13 April 1868

| office3 = President of Pará

| successor3 = {{illm|Antônio Lacerda de Chermont|pt}}

| predecessor3 = {{illm|João Maria de Morais|pt}}

| term_start3 = 29 July 1864

| term_end3 = 8 May 1866

| office4 = President of Goiás

| successor4 = Bonifácio de Siqueira

| predecessor4 = {{illm|João Bonifácio Gomes de Siqueira|pt|lt=Bonifácio de Siqueira}}

| term_start4 = 8 January 1863

| term_end4 = 5 April 1864

| occupation = Politician; military officer; writer

| spouse =

| children =

| allegiance = {{flag|Empire of Brazil}}

| branch = {{army|Empire of Brazil}}

| rank = General

| battles = Paraguayan War

}}

José Vieira Couto de Magalhães (1 November 1837 - 14 September 1898) was a Brazilian politician, military officer, writer and folklorist.

Magalhães began his studies at Mariana Seminar. He studied mathematics at the Military Academy of Rio de Janeiro and attended the course in Field Artillery in London. He graduated from in law at São Paulo Law School in 1859.

Couto de Magalhães knew the interior of Brazil and was the initiator of steam navigation in the Brazilian Highlands. He has advised the State and MP for Goiás and Mato Grosso. He was president of the provinces of Goiás, January 8, 1863 to 5 April 1864, Pará, of July 29, 1864 to May 8, 1866, Mato Grosso, of February 2, 1867 to 13 April 1868 and São Paulo, from June 10 to November 16, 1889, during which the republic was proclaimed. Arrested and sent to Rio de Janeiro, Magalhães was released in recognition of his huge culture and actions of society for clearing the Brazilian backlands.

Magalhães spoke French, English, German, Italian, Tupi and numerous indigenous dialects. he was the one who started the folklore studies in Brazil, publishing O Selvagem (The Wild) (1876) and Testes de antropologia (Anthropology testing) (1894), among others.

He founded in 1885 the first astronomical observatory in the state of São Paulo, at his farm in Great Bridge on the River Tietê.

Couto de Magalhães is the patron in the following academies of letters:

• chair 31 of Academia Tocantinense de Letras;
• chair 19 of Academia Matogrossense de Letras;
• chair 11 of Academia Sul-matogrossense de Letras.{{Cite web|url=http://www.calendario.cnt.br/COUTOMAGALHAES.htm|title = Couto de Magalhães - Almanaque Pridie Kalendas}}

The cities of Couto de Magalhães de Minas in Minas Gerais and Couto de Magalhães in Tocantins are named after him.