Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Alfaro

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Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Alfaro was the President of Nicaragua from 1875-1879.

Preceded by Vicente Cuadra

President of Nicaragua 1875-1879

Succeeded by Joaquín Zavala

A member of the prominent Chamorro family, Pedro Joaquín was born in Granada, Nicaragua on June 21, 1818. At an early age, he left off studies to dedicate himself, together with his brother Dionisio, to the management of paternal inheritances under the guidance of their half-brother Fruto Chamorro. His first marriage was to N. Guadamuz; his second marriage was with Maria de la Luz Bolaños Bendaña in 1854.

In 1849 Chamorro Alfaro became mayor of Granada and, in 1854, he participated in the defense of the city, besieged by Maximo Jerez. He also contributed to the struggle to expel William Walker, the American filibuster. In 1862 he dedicated himself to politics as Senator of the Department of Granada. In 1869, he became a member of the governing junta of Nicaragua. He was elected president in 1871 for four years, and again joined the ruling junta in 1885. In both his public and private life, Don Pedro was a progressive. He represented a faction of the Granadan oligarchy and maintained strong conservative principals, with an emphasis on trade. His influence would help form the nation state of Nicaragua. He remained a political force in Nicaragua until his death on June 7, 1890 in Granada, Nicaragua.

[edit] References

• Recorrido Historico de las Principales Figuras de la Familia Chamorro, Emilio Alvarez Lejarza, Revista Consevadora del Pensamiento Centroamericano, Vol. XIX - No. 91 (Abril, 1968)