He was born to landowner parents in the rural zone of central Espírito Santo.
Back to Espírito Santo, he radicated at its capital, Vitória, where he worked as a public law enforcer.
At some point of his younger years, he joined the movement for the abolition of the slavery in Brazil, and became a Republican conspirator also.
Following the Republican coup d'état that put an end to the Empire of Brazil, Afonso Cláudio was appointed president of Espírito Santo by the new-installed government.
Afonso Cláudio was also a teacher (Professor of Law at the Law School of Niterói, Fluminense Federal University), a poet and writer, being his most important books History of Espirito-Santensis Literature, Rhimes and Songs of Espírito Santo and The Insurrection of Queimado, an essay on the slave rebellion that took place on Espírito Santo in 1849.