april 21st - tiradentes day is a national holiday in brazil commemorating the death and subsequent martyrdom of joaquim jose da silva xavier - in 1789 xavier, a dentist, lead the revolt that freed brazil from portuguese colonial ruling.

a dentist by trade, tiradentes (translatable as 'tooth puller') was the first to organize an independence movement of brazil from portugal.

educated and familiar with the revolutions sweeping north america and france, he saw the exploitation taking place in brazil and decided that something needed to be done.