Charles Wicksteed Armstrong and positive eugenics: a case study regarding a eugenicist and his experience in Brazil

Resumen

Charles Wicksteed Armstrong (1871-1963) was a British writer, schoolmaster, and eugenicist who lived most of his life in Brazil during three distinct periods. His experience in Brazil served to gain practical experience and knowledge to propose his positive eugenic measures in England or, especially, with Englishmen. Thus, using a variety of primary sources, with documentary and bibliographical analysis, this article seeks to show how Brazil served as an experimental eugenics’ laboratory for Armstrong. This made Armstrong confident that he possessed the necessary knowledge to fulfill his patriotic duty and to save England from racial suicide. In this context, the physical environment, health situation (mental, physical and intellectual) and heredity of an individual were important factors that could influence the survival of the people.