His name was suggested by his older brother, Manuel do Nascimento Fernandes Távora, that at the time of his birth studied medicine in Rio de Janeiro and was a great admirer of Mexican president Benito Juárez.

On that occasion, Joaquim Távora, who was an Army officer, was transferred to Rio Grande do Sul to teach Latin at the Military College of Porto Alegre.

However, before heading south with Fernando and Juarez, Joaquim interned them for four months at the Asilo do Patrocínio, in Juiz de Fora, so they could finish their secondary education.

In early 1914, with the extinction of the Latin chair at Military College of Porto Alegre, Joaquim returned to Rio de Janeiro with his two young brothers.

In 1915, Juarez and Fernando entered the engineering course at the Polytechnic School of Rio de Janeiro, but were forced to interrupt it at the beginning of their second year, due to financial difficulties.