[1] Aniceto dos Reis Gonçalves Viana was born in Lisbon in 1840.

His father, who was an actor, and his brother died of yellow fever in 1857.

Viana had to concentrate on earning money to support his family.

He led the commission that advised on how the spelling of Portuguese should be reformed.

[1] This change was successfully made, but created a schism with Brazil which continued to use the traditional spelling.