Pedro Theotónio Pereira

Portuguese politician and diplomat who played a decisive role for the Allies, in drawing Spain with Portugal into a neutral peninsular bloc during World War II. His older brother Luís Teotónio Pereira was also a politician.

His expertise in life insurance and actuarial science caused him to be called by future-PM António de Oliveira Salazar to reform the Portuguese social security system. At the end of World War I, a new legislation on compulsory social insurance had been introduced in Portugal, but the lack of scientific studies caused the outcome of the experience of the Portuguese first Republic to be weak. Together with Salazar, Teotónio Pereira launched new legislation and established the foundations of the Portuguese Social Security system under the Estado Novo.

In January 1938, Teotónio Pereira was appointed by Salazar Special Agent of Portuguese government near Francisco Franco's government during the Spanish Civil War and achieved immense prestige and influence. Later, in April 1938, he officially become Portuguese Ambassador to Spain, where he remained throughout World War II.

He later became Portuguese ambassador in Brazil (1945–1947), ambassador in Washington (1947–1950), Ambassador to the Court of St. James, London (1953–1958) and again in Washington (1961–1963).

He married Isabel Maria van Zeller Pereira Palha, and they had three children. He died on 14 February 1972 at age 69 in Lisbon.