Juan Crisóstomo Falcón
| Juan Crisóstomo Falcón | |
|---|---|
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| 20th President of Venezuela | |
| In office 15 June 1863 – 25 April 1868 |
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| Preceded by | José Antonio Páez |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 January 1820 Hato Tabe, Falcón, Venezuela |
| Died | 29 April 1870 (aged 50) Fort-de-France, Martinique |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Luisa Isabel Pachano Muñoz |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Venezuelan Army |
| Years of service | 1848-1863 (active) |
| Rank | Marshal |
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón y Zavarce (Spanish pronunciation: [xwaŋ kriˈsostomo falˈkon i saˈβarse]; 27 January 1820 – 29 April 1870), was the 20th President of Venezuela(1863–68) as well as military commander during the Federal War. Member of the Liberal party, first served as the supreme chief of a rebel movement in August 1859, but the rebellion was soon crushed. After the Coche treaty, is recognized as president of Venezuela. In 1868 a conservative revolution headed by General José Tadeo Monagas ended with his government. Falcón tried to emigrate to Europe, but died in Martinique in 1870. The Falcón state is named after him.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and career
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón was born in 1820 at Hato Tarbe (nowadays Falcón state), during the last years of the Venezuelan War of Independence. Were his parents José Ildefonso Falcón and Josefa Zavarce; was the only male of his family. His sister Estefanía was married to Ezequiel Zamora. From early age studied at the National School of Coro, learning Christian doctrine, philosophy, literature, arithmetic, grammar, Latin and French. His military career starts defending General José Tadeo Monagas in the battle of Taratara in 1848, fighting against general Judas Tadeo Piñango.
On 18 August 1849, combats at La Bacoa (Coro), beating General Francisco Carmona. Defeated the revolution led by José Antonio Páez, Falcón is designated as responsible for the troops of Maracaibo. In 1853 was promoted as Brigadier General, stifling the revolt led by Colonel Juan Garcés at the Paraguaná Peninsula, against the government of José Gregorio Monagas. Following his military triumph, goes to Barquisimeto, fighting against General Juan Bautista Rodríguez and capturing general Clemente Fonseca, a Rodríguez ally.
In 1857, was appointed by Congress as Major General and Military Commander of Barquisimeto. The same year married in the town of Jacuque with Luisa Isabel Pachano Muñoz. On 5 March 1858, during the Revolución de Marzo (March Revolution), which occurred in Valencia, Falcón remains loyal to the government of José Tadeo Monagas. While the March Revolution succeeds, after the designation of General Julián Castro as president and frictions with the Liberal party, an armed conflict starts. Falcón and Ezequiel Zamora, who opposed Castro's government, were persecuted.
[edit] Federal War
On 7 June, 1858, Falcón exiles in the islands of Bonaire, Aruba and Curaçao, beginning his work as conductor of the Federal Revolution. On 22 March, 1859 Ezequiel Zamora starts his invasion to Venezuela by La Vela de Coro, along with Jose Desiderio, Napoleón Sebastian Arteaga, José Gabriel Ochoa, among others. Meanwhile Falcón was in exile, Zamora assumed the rank of chief of the West Federal Army, declaring the "Independent state of Coro" at the former province of the same name. While Zamora developed intense operations in the western plains, Falcón was in Curaçao deploying efforts for the acquisition of weapons for the success of the Federal campaign.
In mid-1859, lands at Palma Sola. From that, began his active participation in Venezuelan territory, leading the battles of: La Cruz, Barquisimeto, Siquisique, Barquisimeto (second battle), Santa Inés and San Carlos, where Ezequiel Zamora dies. From that moment, Falcón takes the total leadership of the Federalist movement. In the battle of Coplé, on 17 February, 1860, is defeated by General León Febres Cordero. After that, divides the army in three, this action will be severely questioned.[1]
During this time goes to Bogotá, in search of resources to continue the war, failing at this intention goes to the Antilles. At St. Thomas, Curaçao, Aruba and Haiti, gets some resources, marching to Venezuelan in July, 1861. After various military operations in 1861, held in Carabobo a few fruitless peace talks with General José Antonio Páez, then head of the government.
In 1862, was at the military activity again. Directing the battles of Pureche, El Coruba and Maparí, defeating Colonels Ramón Castillo Marzal, George Sutherland and General Facundo Camero. On 7 April, 1863, advances to Coro, a few days before the signing of the Tratado de Coche (Coche Treaty), that ends with the hostilities between centralist and federalist.
[edit] Presidency and last years
On 17 June, 1863, was appointed as interim President of Venezuela by the Assembly of La Victoria. On 24 December, was elected as provisional president by the same assembly; the next day the Constituent Assembly gave to him the title of Great Citizen and the rank of Marshal. During October, 1864, is elected president, being ratified by the Congress on 18 March, 1865.
In 1863, under his presidency, Venezuela became the first country to abolish capital punishment for all crimes, including serious offenses against the state.[2] In late 1866, resigns from the presidency and retired to Coro. With the triumph of the Revolución Azul (Blue Revolution), on 25 July, 1868, is expelled from Venezuela.
On 24 April, 1870, when the Revolution commanded by Antonio Guzmán Blanco triumphs, Juan Crisóstomo Falcón dies in the Fort Toulouse-de-France Hotel, Martinique, as a result of laryngeal cancer. On 1 May, 1874, by a legislative decree, his remains were transferred to the National Pantheon of Venezuela.
[edit] See also
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