[2] After finishing his studies at the Faculty of Law, Bias Fortes returned to Minas Gerais, where he began to work as an attorney in Barbacena.

[2][3] During this period, he occupied the position of president of the Provincial Assembly several times,[3] distinguishing himself in the defense of Minas Gerais' interests and the moralization of public administration.

However, despite receiving a considerable number of votes, he was prevented from taking office due to the coup d'état that proclaimed the republic in Brazil.

[1] Bias Fortes was elected to the Minas Gerais Constituent Assembly on 25 January 1891, directly acting in the creation of the state constitution.

In 1894, Bias Fortes resigned his position in the Senate after being elected president of Minas Gerais on 7 March and taking office on 7 September, succeeding Afonso Pena.

[5] Likewise, in the city's Municipal Park there is a monument to the "founders of Belo Horizonte", which includes Bias Fortes, alongside Augusto de Lima, Afonso Pena and Aarão Reis.