Figueiredo, João Baptista de Oliveira, 1918-99, Brazilian general and politician, president of Brazil (1979-85). He was named (1974) to head the national intelligence service and in 1979 was chosen to succeed Ernesto Geisel as president. Figueiredo liberalized Brazil's military regime and moved the nation cautiously toward democracy. He was succeeded by a civilian president, José Sarney.