Pedro Agustín Morales Hernández (11 March 1808 – 27 November 1872) was a Bolivian military officer who served as the 16th president of Bolivia from 1871 and 1872.
Morales was born in La Paz. Originally a supporter of President José Ballivián (1841–1847), Morales became a sworn enemy of General Manuel Isidoro Belzu, who had overthrown Ballivián in 1847.[4] A Colonel in 1850, Morales orchestrated an assassination attempt on the life of President Belzu. The assassination attempt failed and Morales was forced to flee the country, heading to Peru and remaining there until the overthrow of Jorge Córdova.[5]
Career
Following many years combatting Belzu, Morales came to power with President José Maria Linares (1857–1861). Opposed to the government of General José Maria de Achá, who had overthrown Linares, Morales supported the 1864 coup that brought to power the notorious General Mariano Melgarejo, who rewarded him with the generalship and (importantly) command of the Bolivian Army.[4] Melgarejo's six-year regime had been controversial and brutal, and opposition to it became widespread. Eventually, General Morales changed sides and, after uniting all the factions fighting against the President, deposed Melgarejo via coup d'état in January, 1871.[6][7][8]
Author Moisés Alcázar describes the jubilat sentiment of the Bolivian people after Melgarejo's overthrow:
Melgarejo's star had definitively died out. Bolivia jubilantly celebrated its liberation, taking in happily the awakening from a terrible nightmare, determined to return to normality, and to reverse the values invested in the dark and mournful times [of Melgarejo's regime] because the world has to regain its balance. In the history of humanity, power is nothing more than frequent alternative. Life is stronger than despotism and errors, and sometimes, gently or painfully, order and progress are restored, without which the existence of peoples would be impossible. Because good is imperative for superior souls, dignifying the human species. The malignant ends by being irretrievably defeated and devastated, although the brutality is supported by force, which is also transitory and variable. And there will be jubilant mornings like that of January 15, 1871, as there will be Melgarejos and crime and barbarism blocks, although only for a short time, the sun of Liberty.[5]
Soon after ousting Melgarejo, Morales reverted the reforms and decrees of the previous regime. However, he was as much a despot as his predecessor, shutting the national congress down in 1872.[5]
Controversy and death
Morales’ presidency would have a turbulent start, like most Bolivian presidents of that time, facing a naval invasion launched from Valparaíso by melgarejista General Quintín Quevedo. Ruperto Fernández, the Prefect of Cobija, successfully crushed the expedition and Quevedo was forced to flee to Peru.
Of legendarily volcanic temperament, Morales endeavored to rule as a dictator, but was exposed as semi-literate when, in 1872, one of his letters was published in the newspapers by a famous Bolivian writer.[4] Embarrassed, Morales called Congress for the first time since the early Achá administration and declared himself ready to leave office if considered unworthy.[5][9]
While Congress deliberated, Morales suffered from extremely violent tantrums and mood changes. This led him to physically assault one of his military aides, his nephew Federico Lafaye, in the Government Palace at La Paz on 27 November 1872.[4] The President's nephew, tried to stop him but was struck himself, whereupon Lafaye shot and killed the temperamental President.[5]
Following Morales' death, Congress proclaimed Tomás Frías as temporary President, charged with the task of calling elections in 1873.[9]
^Tomás Frías assumed office as president of Bolivia the day after Agustín Morales' death.[2] Some sources list President of the National Assembly Juan de Dios Bosque as acting president from the night of 27 November to the 28th. Why some sources include Bosque and others omit him is unclear, though it is possibly due to the fact that executive power was transferred to him automatically and not through formal inauguration and he never carried out any acts as president.[3]
Footnotes
^"Decreto Supremo de 26 de noviembre de 1870". Anuario administrativo (in Spanish). 26 November 1870. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 26 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Bolivia: Ley de 28 de noviembre de 1872". www.lexivox.org. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
^"Provincia Larecaja: Obispo Juan de Dios Bosque". www.eldiario.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 May 2021.
^ abcdMesa, José de; Gisbert, Teresa; G, Carlos D. Mesa (1997). Historia de Bolivia (in Spanish). Editorial Gisbert.
^ abcdeAlcázar, Moisés (1980). Drama y comedia en el Congreso (in Spanish). Librería Editorial "Juventud,".
^Scheina, Robert L. (31 January 2003). Latin America's Wars. Potomac Books, Inc. ISBN978-1-59797-477-6.
^"Mariano Melgarejo, General de División de Chile". www.eldiario.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^Klein, Herbert S. (9 December 2021). A Concise History of Bolivia. Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-1-108-84482-6.
^ abWikipedia, Source (2013). People from la Paz: Adolfo Ballivián, Agustín Morales, Alcides Arguedas, Alfonso Gumucio Dagron, Alfredo Arce Carpio, Andrés de Santa Cruz, Arturo Von. General Books. ISBN978-1-230-78376-5.
Bibliography
Mesa, José de; Gisbert, Teresa; Gisbert, Carlos D. Mesa (1997). Historia de Bolivia (in Spanish). Editorial Gisbert.
agustín, morales, this, spanish, name, first, paternal, surname, morales, second, maternal, family, name, hernández, pedro, hernández, march, 1808, november, 1872, bolivian, military, officer, served, 16th, president, bolivia, from, 1871, 1872, 16th, president. In this Spanish name the first or paternal surname is Morales and the second or maternal family name is Hernandez Pedro Agustin Morales Hernandez 11 March 1808 27 November 1872 was a Bolivian military officer who served as the 16th president of Bolivia from 1871 and 1872 Agustin Morales16th President of BoliviaIn office 15 January 1871 27 November 1872 a Provisional 21 January 1871 25 August 1872Preceded byMariano MelgarejoSucceeded byTomas Frias b Personal detailsBornPedro Agustin Morales Hernandez 1808 03 11 11 March 1808La Paz Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata now Bolivia Died27 November 1872 1872 11 27 aged 64 La Paz BoliviaCause of deathPhysical quarrelSpousePetrona LopezParent s Pedro MoralesAntonia HernandezSignatureMilitary serviceAllegianceBoliviaBranch serviceBolivian ArmyRankGeneral Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 3 Controversy and death 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Footnotes 4 3 BibliographyEarly years EditMorales was born in La Paz Originally a supporter of President Jose Ballivian 1841 1847 Morales became a sworn enemy of General Manuel Isidoro Belzu who had overthrown Ballivian in 1847 4 A Colonel in 1850 Morales orchestrated an assassination attempt on the life of President Belzu The assassination attempt failed and Morales was forced to flee the country heading to Peru and remaining there until the overthrow of Jorge Cordova 5 Career EditFollowing many years combatting Belzu Morales came to power with President Jose Maria Linares 1857 1861 Opposed to the government of General Jose Maria de Acha who had overthrown Linares Morales supported the 1864 coup that brought to power the notorious General Mariano Melgarejo who rewarded him with the generalship and importantly command of the Bolivian Army 4 Melgarejo s six year regime had been controversial and brutal and opposition to it became widespread Eventually General Morales changed sides and after uniting all the factions fighting against the President deposed Melgarejo via coup d etat in January 1871 6 7 8 Author Moises Alcazar describes the jubilat sentiment of the Bolivian people after Melgarejo s overthrow Melgarejo s star had definitively died out Bolivia jubilantly celebrated its liberation taking in happily the awakening from a terrible nightmare determined to return to normality and to reverse the values invested in the dark and mournful times of Melgarejo s regime because the world has to regain its balance In the history of humanity power is nothing more than frequent alternative Life is stronger than despotism and errors and sometimes gently or painfully order and progress are restored without which the existence of peoples would be impossible Because good is imperative for superior souls dignifying the human species The malignant ends by being irretrievably defeated and devastated although the brutality is supported by force which is also transitory and variable And there will be jubilant mornings like that of January 15 1871 as there will be Melgarejos and crime and barbarism blocks although only for a short time the sun of Liberty 5 Soon after ousting Melgarejo Morales reverted the reforms and decrees of the previous regime However he was as much a despot as his predecessor shutting the national congress down in 1872 5 Controversy and death EditMorales presidency would have a turbulent start like most Bolivian presidents of that time facing a naval invasion launched from Valparaiso by melgarejista General Quintin Quevedo Ruperto Fernandez the Prefect of Cobija successfully crushed the expedition and Quevedo was forced to flee to Peru Of legendarily volcanic temperament Morales endeavored to rule as a dictator but was exposed as semi literate when in 1872 one of his letters was published in the newspapers by a famous Bolivian writer 4 Embarrassed Morales called Congress for the first time since the early Acha administration and declared himself ready to leave office if considered unworthy 5 9 While Congress deliberated Morales suffered from extremely violent tantrums and mood changes This led him to physically assault one of his military aides his nephew Federico Lafaye in the Government Palace at La Paz on 27 November 1872 4 The President s nephew tried to stop him but was struck himself whereupon Lafaye shot and killed the temperamental President 5 Following Morales death Congress proclaimed Tomas Frias as temporary President charged with the task of calling elections in 1873 9 References EditNotes Edit In dissidence since 26 November 1870 1 Tomas Frias assumed office as president of Bolivia the day after Agustin Morales death 2 Some sources list President of the National Assembly Juan de Dios Bosque as acting president from the night of 27 November to the 28th Why some sources include Bosque and others omit him is unclear though it is possibly due to the fact that executive power was transferred to him automatically and not through formal inauguration and he never carried out any acts as president 3 Footnotes Edit Decreto Supremo de 26 de noviembre de 1870 Anuario administrativo in Spanish 26 November 1870 pp 1 2 Retrieved 26 October 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Bolivia Ley de 28 de noviembre de 1872 www lexivox org Retrieved 8 May 2021 Provincia Larecaja Obispo Juan de Dios Bosque www eldiario net in Spanish Retrieved 8 May 2021 a b c d Mesa Jose de Gisbert Teresa G Carlos D Mesa 1997 Historia de Bolivia in Spanish Editorial Gisbert a b c d e Alcazar Moises 1980 Drama y comedia en el Congreso in Spanish Libreria Editorial Juventud Scheina Robert L 31 January 2003 Latin America s Wars Potomac Books Inc ISBN 978 1 59797 477 6 Mariano Melgarejo General de Division de Chile www eldiario net in Spanish Retrieved 28 September 2022 Klein Herbert S 9 December 2021 A Concise History of Bolivia Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 1 108 84482 6 a b Wikipedia Source 2013 People from la Paz Adolfo Ballivian Agustin Morales Alcides Arguedas Alfonso Gumucio Dagron Alfredo Arce Carpio Andres de Santa Cruz Arturo Von General Books ISBN 978 1 230 78376 5 Bibliography Edit Mesa Jose de Gisbert Teresa Gisbert Carlos D Mesa 1997 Historia de Bolivia in Spanish Editorial Gisbert Political officesPreceded byMariano Melgarejo President of Bolivia1871 1872 VacantJuan de Dios BosqueActingTitle next held byTomas Frias Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agustin Morales amp oldid 1117814840, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
