Antonio Guzmán Blanco

Antonio Guzmán Blanco ( born February 20, 1829 in Caracas, † July 28, 1899 in Paris) was a Venezuelan General and politician. From 1870 to 1877, from 1879 to 1884 and from 1886 to 1887 he was President of Venezuela.

Life

The son of the politician and founder of the Partido Liberal, Antonio Leocadio Guzmán studied until 1856 Law at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas and was then in the diplomatic service in the United States. After his return in 1858 he was exiled by President Julián Castro on the Antilles. He joined General Juan Crisóstomo Falcón and Ezequiel Zamora during their invasion of Venezuela. After defeat Falcons in 1860, he fled with this and was created to recruit support for the West Indies.

The end of 1861 he landed again with Falcon in Venezuela. After a series of successful battles for Falcon hostilities ended with the Treaty of Coche on 22 May 1863. A general meeting convened to Victoria General Falcon elected president and Guzmán vice-president. Later Guzmán was also elected President of the Congress.

After the deposition Falcons by a conservative survey of José Tadeo Monagas 1868 Guzmán fled to Curaçao. Beginning of 1870, he landed with their own troops in Curamichate and pulled already victorious in April in a Caracas. In the following seven years he ruled Venezuela as president with dictatorial powers. ( During this time, the Congress awarded him the title Ilustre Americano, regenerador de Venezuela. )

After the victory of Revolución Reivindicadota Guzmán went to Paris, but was after the death of his successor, Francisco Linares again president. Under the presidency of General Joaquín Crespo he was Venezuelan Ambassador in Paris, before he was re-elected President in 1886. In August 1887, he settled permanently in Paris, where he died in 1899. In 1999 his remains were transferred to Venezuela.

Under Guzmán modernization of Venezuela was launched on the French model. It road, railways and aqueducts were built and installed the first telephones. In his arrangement, the Capitolio Federal ( 1873-77 ) and the Panteon Nacional were built. In 1881 he determined the poem Gloria al bravo pueblo in the setting by Juan José Landaeta the Venezuelan national anthem.