Tomás Frías Ametller

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Tomás Frías Amatller
20th President of Bolivia
In office November 28, 1872 – May 7, 1873
Preceded by	Agustín Morales
Succeeded by	Adolfo Ballivián
22nd President of Bolivia
In office January 31, 1874 – May 4, 1876
Preceded by	Adolfo Ballivián
Succeeded by	Hilarión Daza Groselle
Born	1804 Potosí, Bolivia
Died	1884 Florence, Italy

Tomás Frías Amatller (1804-1884) was a noted politician who served twice as president of Bolivia (1872-73 and 1874-76). Tomás Frías Province is named after him.

Tomás Frías Ametller was born to a wealthy land-owning family in Potosí. Frías Ametller was Minister of Foreign Relations of President José Ballivián (1841-1847) and a steadfast supporter of civilian rule and the primacy of laws. He was named President by Congress upon the death of dictator Agustín Morales in November of 1872. His task was to call free elections as soon as possible. He did so, and in May 1873 transferred power to the winning candidate, Adolfo Ballivián Coll, the son of the former President and war hero, José Ballivián. Unfortunately, Ballivián Coll soon fell ill with cancer and died in February of 1874, after only nine months in office. At that point, Tomás Frías Ametller became President again by virtue of his being head of the Council of State, in accordance to the Constitution then in effect. As Ballivián's legal successor, his term in office was projected to run until 1877.

In 1874, the elderly president signed with Chile a treaty that freed all Chilean citizens and companies from any taxes for the exploitation of Bolivian resources in the Pacific coast. A reciprocal agreement liberated Bolivian concerns of similar taxes in Chile, but in reality the Chilean investment in the Bolivian Litoral was extensive while Bolivia's economic presence in Chile was negligible. For this reason, it is considered to be an agreement contrary to Bolivian interests. Its annulment by the successor government proved to be the touchstone of the disastrous War of the Pacific.

Despite the almost universal respect for the Frías government, this was still the era of the caudillos, and of military adventurism in politics. The president was overthrown in an 1876 coup led by General Hilarión Daza Groselle, and soon left the country. He died in Florence, Italy, in 1884.

Preceded by Agustín Morales Hernández	President of Bolivia 1872-1873	Succeeded by Adolfo Ballivián Coll
Preceded by Adolfo Ballivián Coll	President of Bolivia 1874-1876	Succeeded by Hilarión Daza Groselle