Agustín Morales

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Morales and the second or maternal family name is Hernández.
Agustín Morales
Agustín Morales - 2.jpg
16th President of Bolivia
In office
15 January 1871 – 27 November 1872
Preceded byMariano Melgarejo
Succeeded byTomás Frías (interim)[a]
Personal details
Born
Pedro Agustín Morales Hernández

(1808-03-11)11 March 1808
La Paz, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata (now Bolivia)
Died27 November 1872(1872-11-27) (aged 64)
La Paz, Bolivia
Cause of deathPhysical quarrel
NationalityBolivian
Spouse(s)Petrona López
ParentsPedro Morales
Antonia Hernández
Signature
Military service
AllegianceBolivia
Branch/serviceBolivian Army
RankGeneral

Pedro Agustín Morales Hernández (11 March 1808 – 27 November 1872) was a Bolivian military officer who served as the 16th President of Bolivia from 1871 and 1872.

Early years[]

Morales was born in La Paz. Originally a supporter of President José Ballivián (1841–47), Morales became a sworn enemy of General Manuel Belzu, who had in essence overthrown Ballivián in 1847.

Career[]

Following many years combatting Belzu, Morales came to power with President José Maria Linares (1857–1861). Opposed to the government of General José Maria de Achá, who had overthrown Linares, Morales supported the 1864 coup that brought to power the notorious General Mariano Melgarejo, who rewarded him with the generalship and (importantly) command of the Bolivian Army. Melgarejo's "Sexenio" (Six-Year Ordeal) had been controversial and brutal, and opposition to it became widespread. Eventually, General Morales changed sides and, after uniting all the factions fighting against the President, dethroned Melgarejo via coup d'état in January, 1871. Thus ended the dreaded "Sexenio"—but not the era of military rule.

Controversy and death[]

Of legendarily volcanic temperament, Morales endeavored to rule as a dictator, but was exposed as semi-literate when, in 1872, one of his letters was published in the newspapers by a famous Bolivian writer. Embarrassed, Morales called Congress for the first time since the early Achá administration and declared himself ready to leave office if considered unworthy. While Congress deliberated, Morales suffered from extremely violent tantrums and mood changes. This led him to physically assault one of his military aides in the Government Palace at La Paz on 27 November 1872. The President's nephew, Federico Lafaye, tried to stop him but was struck himself, whereupon Lafaye shot and killed the temperamental President.

Following Morales' death, Congress proclaimed Tomás Frías as temporary President, charged with the task of calling elections in 1873.

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Tomás Frías assumed office as president of Bolivia the day after Agustín Morales' death.[1] Some sources list President of the National Assembly Juan de Dios Bosque as "Acting President of Bolivia" from the night of 27 November to the 28th. Why some sources include Bosque and others omit him is unclear, though it is possibly due to the fact that executive power was transferred to him automatically and not through formal inauguration and he never carried out any acts as president.[2]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ "Bolivia: Ley de 28 de noviembre de 1872". www.lexivox.org. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Provincia Larecaja: Obispo Juan de Dios Bosque". www.eldiario.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 May 2021.

Bibliography[]

Political offices
Preceded by
Mariano Melgarejo 		President of Bolivia
1871–1872 		Vacant
Title next held by
Tomás Frías
Interim
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