Carlos Lemos Simmonds
| Carlos Apolinar Lemos Simmonds | |
|---|---|
| 6th Vice President of Colombia | |
| In office September 19, 1997 – August 7, 1998 | |
| President | Ernesto Samper Pizano |
| Preceded by | Humberto de la Calle Lombana |
| Succeeded by | Gustavo Bell Lemus |
| 24th Colombia Ambassador to United Kingdom | |
| In office 15 November 1995 – 1997 | |
| President | Ernesto Samper Pizano |
| Preceded by | Noemí Sanín Posada |
| Succeeded by | Humberto de la Calle Lombana |
| Colombia Ambassador to Austria | |
| In office 1995–1996 | |
| President | Ernesto Samper Pizano |
| Preceded by | Alfonso Gómez Méndez |
| Minister of Government of Colombia | |
| In office 1989–1990 | |
| President | Virgilio Barco Vargas |
| Preceded by | Orlando Vásquez Velásquez |
| Succeeded by | Horacio Serpa Uribe |
| 33rd Minister of Communications of Colombia | |
| President | Virgilio Barco Vargas |
| Preceded by | Pedro Martín Leyes |
| Succeeded by | Enrique Daníes Rincones |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia | |
| In office March 12, 1981 – August 7, 1982 | |
| President | Julio César Turbay Ayala |
| Preceded by | Diego Uribe Vargas |
| Succeeded by | Rodrigo Hernan Lloreda Caicedo |
| Member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia | |
| In office 20 July 1974 – 20 July 1978 | |
| Constituency | Cauca Department |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 October 1933 Popayán, Cauca, Colombia |
| Died | 30 July 2003 (aged 69) Bogotá, D.C., Colombia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children |
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| Alma mater | University of Cauca |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Carlos Apolinar Lemos Simmonds (October 23, 1933 – July 30, 2003) was the 6th Vice President of Colombia.
Political career
After graduating Lemos worked as a Municipal Judge in the town of Piendamó, Cauca. He later transferred to Bogotá where he was elected councilman in the early 1970s for three consecutive terms. He then ran for the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia. During the government of President Julio César Turbay Lemos was appointed as Secretary General of the Presidency of Colombia. In the same administration he was promoted to minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after that he was shifted to different ministries, Ministry of Government, Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (Colombia).
Lemos served later as Ambassador of Colombia to the Organization of American States (OAS), drafter of the Colombian Constitution of 1991, Ambassador of Colombia to Austria, Ambassador of Colombia to Great Britain, senator, vice president and president of Colombia temporarily.
As a member of the Colombian Foreign Affairs Commission he contributed towards resolving the dispute over San Andrés y Providencia Islands in the Caribbean sea between Colombia and Nicaragua for territorial waters. He also negotiated the peace process with the M-19 guerrilla.
Personal life
Carlos Apolinar was born on 23 October 1933 in Popayán, Cauca to Antonio José Lemos Guzmán and María Antonia Simmonds Pardo. He married María Victoria Perez y Soto Bohorquez, with whom he had four children: María Eugenia, Carlos José, María Victoria, and Adriana. He later divorced Perez y Soto, and in 1985 married Martha Blanco Guauque.
Lemos died on 30 July 2003 in Bogotá, D.C. after a fight with lung cancer. In accordance with his last will and testament, he was mourned and buried privately, and did not receive a state funeral as he would have been entitled.
References
- (Spanish) Colombia.com Carlos Lemos Simmonds biography
- (Spanish) Presidency of Colombia; Carlos Lemos Simmonds biography
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