Guillermo Franco (February 8, 1811 in

Guayaquil , motto = Por Guayaquil Independiente en, For Independent Guayaquil , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Ecuador#South America , pushpin_re ...

– March 1873 in Callao, Peru) was an

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

ian

general A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

Biography

From a young age, Franco was interested in becoming a military man. He could not participate in the Revolution of October 9, 1820 on account of his young age, but soon thereafter enrolled at the Nautical School founded by Admiral Illingworth. On August 31, 1828, along with José María Urvina,

Francisco Robles Francisco Robles García (5 May 1811 – 7 March 1893) was President of Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally ...

, Luis de Tola and several others, under the command of Captain Tomás Carlos Wright, he participated with distinction in the Battle of Punta Malpelo. During the early years of the Republic of Ecuador, Franco continued his ascent through the ranks, until in 1857, during the presidency of General Francisco Robles, he was designated Chief of the Garrison of Guayaquil. By August 1859, Franco was the General Commander of the District of Guayas, and the third in the ''Urbinista''

caudillo A ''caudillo'' ( , ; osp, cabdillo, from Latin , diminutive of ''caput'' "head") is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise definition of ''caudillo'', which is often used interchangeably with " ...

hierarchy, after Urvina and Robles. Like all military men of the time, he aspired to the presidency of the republic, and awaited the moment that he could take power via a coup. These were men whose ambition knew no limits, and would willingly betray their country to satisfy their desire for power. In Quito, a triumvirate made up of the doctors

Gabriel García Moreno Gabriel Gregorio Fernando José María García Moreno y Morán de Butrón (24 December 1821 – 6 August 1875), was an Ecuadorian politician and aristocrat who twice served as President of Ecuador (1861–65 and 1869–75) and was assassinated d ...

Jerónimo Carrión Jerónimo Carrión y Palacio (6 July 1804, Cariamanga – 5 May 1873) was President of Ecuador between 7 September 1865 and 6 November 1867. He also served as Vice President of Ecuador The vice president of Ecuador is the second highest pol ...

and Pacifico Chiriboga had established itself in opposition to the Robles regime. Franco seized his opportunity, declaring himself Supreme Chief of Guayaquil and Cuenca on September 17. He made a deal with Peruvian President

Ramón Castilla Ramón Castilla y Marquesado (; 31 August 1797 – 30 May 1867) was a Peruvian ''caudillo'' who served as President of Peru three times as well as the Interim President of Peru (Revolution Self-proclaimed President) in 1863. His earliest pr ...

, who wanted to make the most of the Ecuadorian civil unrest in order to secure a favorable outcome for his side in the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War of 1857–1860, additionally convincing Castilla to back him against García Moreno. On January 25, 1860, the Treaty of Mapasingue was signed by Franco and Castilla, with Franco accepting the Peruvian demands in exchange for money, men, weapons, ships and munitions for the coming fight against García Moreno's provisional government. However, García Moreno was able to ally himself with former enemy

Juan José Flores Juan José Flores y Aramburu (19 July 1800 – 1 October 1864) was a Venezuelan-born military general who became the first (in 1830), third (in 1839) and fourth (in 1843) President of the new Republic of Ecuador. He is often referred to as "The ...

, an experienced general who took command of the provisional government army, and defeated Franco's forces at Babahoyo. Franco retreated to Guayaquil, where he could count on the support of the Peruvian ships anchored in the

Guayas River The Guayas River also called Rio Guayas is a major river in western Ecuador. It gives name to Guayas Province and is the most important river in South America that does not flow into the Atlantic Ocean or any of its marginal seas. Its total lengt ...

. He was, however, defeated once again on September 24, 1860, in the historic Battle of Guayaquil. Franco abandoned the country aboard the Ecuadorian schooner ''Cuatro de Julio'', and sought refuge in Peru. Shamed by his defeat, he never returned to Ecuador, and died in Callao, Peru, in March 1873.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Franco, Guillermo 1811 births 1873 deaths People from Guayaquil Ecuadorian generals Ecuadorian politicians