Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán Explained

Honorific Prefix:General
Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán
Term Start:Acting: 19 January 1859
Term End:15 February 1859
Vicepresident:Himself
Successor:José María Peralta (acting)
Term Start1:25 April 1845
Term End1:1 February 1846
Vicepresident1:Himself
Predecessor1:Fermín Palacios (acting)
Successor1:Fermín Palacios (acting)
Term Start2:1 February 1858
Term End2:1 February 1860
Term Start3:1 February 1844
Term End3:1 February 1846
Vicepresident3:Francisco Malespín
Fermín Palacios
Himself
Birth Date:15 February 1801
Nationality:Costa Rican
Party:Conservative
Spouse:Paula Saldós
Children:David, Adelaida
Relatives:Gerardo Barrios (son-in-law)
Occupation:Politician, military officer
Rank:General
Battles:Malespín's War
Filibuster War
Honduran-Salvadoran War of 1845

Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán (15 February 1801 – 1875) was a Central American politician and military general who served as acting President of El Salvador on three occasions: from 25 October 1844 to 16 February 1845, from 25 April 1845 to 1 February 1846, and from 19 January 1859 to 15 February 1859,[1] after conducting a coup against General Francisco Malespín after the Guerra de Malespín, an invasion into Nicaragua which he solely started to loot the Nicaraguan metropolis of León.

Early life and family

Guzmán was born in Cartago, Costa Rica, in 1801 into a landowning family. In the dissensions between the Federal and Centralist parties, Guzmán joined the former. A landowner, he was commissioned as a lieutenant-colonel.

He had married and had a family. His son David Joaquín Guzmán was a politician and doctor, founding director of the National Museum of El Salvador and a museum of anthropology in Nicaragua.

Political career

Coup d'etat

See main article: Malespín's War.

He was elected Vice President of El Salvador in 1844 with General Francisco Malespín as president.[2] That year Malespín invaded Nicaragua and left the capital to command the army in person and handed over power to Guzmán.

Guzmán conducted a coup against Malespín on 2 February 1845 and was joined by the greater part of the inhabitants of the capital, and a portion of the general's small army. They deposed Malespin and Guzmán assumed the executive office till the end of the presidential term.

War with Honduras

Tensions with the Honduran government led to a Salvadoran invasion which failed miserably, which led to a Honduran invasion. El Salvador won the Battle of La Hacienda of El Obrajuelo, armistice was proposed between both sides. but the Honduran officers didn't care and defeated the Salvadorans in La Union, forcing the Salvadoran government to give officers and prisoners captured during the war . [3]

Later political career

Guzmán was several times elected to the legislative assembly, the council of state, and the prefecture of the department where he resided.

He was later elected as Vice President of El Salvador alongside President Miguel Santín del Castillo, and served from February 1858 to February 1859.[4]

Death

He died in 1875, San Miguel, El Salvador.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Presidencia de El Salvador . 2007-10-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071006011542/http://www.casapres.gob.sv/presidentes/pres/jeguzman1844.htm . 2007-10-06 . live .
  2. Book: Reyes, Rafael . Nociones de Historia de El Salvador . 1920 . 127 . es.
  3. Book: Castellanos, Pedro Zamora . Vida militar de Centro America . 1925 . Tipografia nacional . es.
  4. Web site: Presidencia de El Salvador . 2020-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090302084934/http://www.casapres.gob.sv/presidentes/pres/rcampo1856.htm . 2009-03-02 . dead .