Santiago Pérez de Manosalbas | |
|---|---|
 Daguerreotype of Manosalbas circa 1870. | |
| 10th President of the United States of Colombia | |
| In office April 1, 1874 – April 1, 1876 | |
| Preceded by | Manuel Murillo Toro |
| Succeeded by | Aquileo Parra |
| Secretary of theInterior andForeign Affairs | |
| In office April 1, 1868 – April 1, 1870 | |
| President | Santos Gutiérrez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1830-03-23)March 23, 1830 |
| Died | August 5, 1900(1900-08-05) (aged 70) |
| Resting place | Central Cemetery of Bogotá |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Tadea Triana Silva |
| Alma mater | Our Lady of the Rosary University |
| Occupation | Educator,writer,journalist |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Santiago Pérez de Manosalbas[1] (March 23, 1830 – August 5, 1900), was a Colombian educator, lawyer, diplomat, writer, journalist, andstatesman who wasPresident of theUnited States of Colombia between 1874 and 1876.[2]
Pérez was born inZipaquirá,Cundinamarca, on May 23, 1830, in what was then theRepublic of New Granada. Born to a family of farmers, his parents were Felipe Pérez and Rosa Manosalbas.[2] He died while in exile inParis on August 5, 1900, at the age of 70.[3]He was buried in theBatignolles Cemetery in Paris and there he rested until 1952, when his remains wererepatriated and buried in theCentral Cemetery of Bogotá.
The Pérez de Manosalbas was not a family of means, and Santiago and his brotherFelipe Pérez went to the local public school inZipaquirá, but they excelled beyond their teachers’ expectations. When the Director of Public Instruction Lorenzo María Lleras went to Zipaquirá to visit the school, he was impressed by Santiago and Felipe’s talent and potential. Lleras decided to help them and took them with him toOur Lady of the Rosary University, where he was the rector. He later took them to the “Colegio del Espíritu Santo”, a higher education school, which Lleras had founded. There, Pérez studied jurisprudence and on May 23, 1830, he received his law degree, although he never professed this occupation, as he was a man of letters and politics.[2]
Pérez was married to Tadea Triana Silva; together they had four children, Santiago, Paulina, Eduardo and Amelia. Amelia marriedClímaco Calderón, future President of Colombia. Eduardo became a diplomat. Santiago followed in his fathers footsteps, becoming a writer, politician, diplomat, and journalist.
Pérez started his true calling as an educator working as a teacher inSpanish andSpanish literature while studying law in the Colegio del Espíritu Santo. In 1857 together with his brother Felipe, they established the Colegio Pérez Hermanos, a learning institution that taught such people as the linguistRufino José Cuervo.
During the second administration of presidentManuel Murillo Toro he was appointedDirector of Public Instruction while also working asrector of theNational University of Colombia.[2] In his prominent role as Director of Public Instruction he fomented education and the construction of new schools.
In 1852, Pérez joined theComisión Corográfica, a state funded expedition led byAgustin Codazzi whose goal was to map out the entire country and collect information on its inhabitants. Pérez worked as secretary of the expedition, replacingManuel Ancízar, who had fallen ill along the trip. His mission was to record events, places, descriptions, statistics, and other valuable information of the places they went to. During his time in the commission, he traveled toNeiva,Mariquita,Chocó,Casanare,Bogotá, and the territory of theCaquetá. He published his studies in the newspaperEl Neo-Granadino, and wrote a memoir on the expedition entitledApuntes de un viajero por Antioquia y el sur de la Nueva Granada.
Pérez was elected MP and assisted to congress in several legislatures.[2] In 1869, between June 23–30, he acted as interim president during the government of GeneralSantos Gutiérrez.[4] He also served as Secretary of theInterior andForeign Affairs between 1868 and 1870. Later, he was appointedambassador to theUnited States.[2]
Pérez, being considered an educator rather than a politician, chose education as his highest priority. He strengthened training facilities for teachers, ordered the construction of variousprimary schools, and consolidated theNational University of Colombia. As president he, and members of his staff assisted the graduation ceremonies of young professionals to show support from the government. He promoted the expansion of the nationalrailways system, including the construction of the"Ferrocarril del Norte" and the acquisition of the"Ferrocarril de Bolívar".[4]
During his administration the civil war of 1875-76 broke out.[5]
Pérez started out early on in his life to write.[6]
As a literate, he wrote the Compendio de gramática castellana por un granadino, which became a required book for the instruction of theSpanish language in Colombia[11]
For all his knowledge of the grammar and essence of theCastilian language, Pérez was elected member of theAcademia Colombiana de la Lengua (Colombian Academy of the Language) as one of its original founders, along as other prominent members asMiguel Antonio Caro, and his former student Rufino José Cuervo among others.
Pérez served as collaborator for the newspapers,El Neo-Granadino (1851),El Tiempo (1856),El Mensajero (1866),El Relator (1893),La Defensa andLa América (1880). He published various articles on different topics including politics, literature and economy.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| International | |
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