| Julián Castro | |
|---|---|
| 15th President of Venezuela | |
| In office 18 March 1858 – 2 August 1859 |
|
| Preceded by | Pedro Gual |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Gual |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c.1810 Petare, Miranda |
| Died | 12 June 1875 Valencia, Carabobo |
| Spouse(s) | María Nieves Briceño |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Signature | |
Julián Castro Contreras (c. 1810 – 12 June 1875) was a Venezuelan military officer and President of Venezuela between 1858 and 1859.
He was presumably born in Petare circa 1810, although this date is not certain. His parents were Juan Manuel Castro and Margarita Contreras. He had a brother, Inocente Castro. He joined the Army and in 1830 he held the rank of Alférez (Second Lieutenant in modern military hierarchy). In 1835, as Captain, he took part in the Revolution of Reforms which withdrew President José María Vargas from power. Defeated the coup, he was imprisoned, but released some years later. Then he and his brother moved to Bejuma (Carabobo State). He married María Nieves Briceño, natural daughter of José Laurencio Silva, a hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence, and had four sons: Julián, Inocente, Ramón and Francisco de Paula.
From the rise of José Tadeo Monagas to the Presidency in 1847, Castro began to promote in the military system: in 1849 he was promoted to Commander (now Major). In 1849 was commissioned to fight against José Antonio Páez, who led an insurrection against Monagas, and gained some reputation of courageous. After several promotions, he arose the rank of General de Brigada (Brigadier General) in 1853; the next year, he was appointed Military Commander (Comandante de Armas) of Valencia. In April, 1856, Monagas appointed Castro as Governor of Carabobo and promoted him to General de División (Major General).
In March, 1858, he led a movement against Monagas, who quit as President on 15 March. Castro became President on 18 March. His presidency was troubled, with scandals (the Urrutia Protocol affair, among others), coup attempts and the beginning of the Federal War (February 1859), led by Ezequiel Zamora and Juan Crisóstomo Falcón.
On 2 August 1859, he was imprisoned by some military officers, including the Military Commander of Caracas, Manuel de las Casas, forcing him to quit. He remained in prison and was tried by the Venezuelan Congress in July 1860, who found him guilty of treason, but did not punish him. After the trial, Castro left Venezuela.
Castro returned Venezuela in 1870, just before the Revolution of April led by Antonio Guzmán, joining it, and remained in the Venezuelan Army until his death. He died in Valencia, on 12 June 1875.