Juan Pablo Rojas Paúl (26 November 1826 – 22 July 1905) was the

president of Venezuela The president of Venezuela ( es, Presidente de Venezuela), officially known as the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is the head of state and head of government in Ven ...

from 1888 to 1890. He was the first civilian president who was elected by constitutional procedures in 50 years, and the only one who could finish his term properly, until 74 years later.

Biography

He was the

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

from 1879 to 1884 and in 1887. Rojas took over the presidency from

Hermógenes López Hermógenes López (19 April 1830, in Naguanagua, Carabobo – 17 December 1898, in Valencia, Carabobo) was a Venezuelan soldier, farmer and acting president of his country between 1887 and 1888, after the resignation of General Antonio Guzmán B ...

, who had served as an interim president after Antonio Guzmán (who was three times president) finally stepped down. Rojas tried to reconcile the followers of Guzmán and

Joaquín Crespo Joaquín Sinforiano de Jesús Crespo Torres (; 22 August 1841 – 16 April 1898) was a Venezuelan military officer and politician. A member of the Great Liberal Party of Venezuela, he served as the president of Venezuela from 1884 to 1886 and aga ...

, confronted at that time. During the Rojas administration there were violent demonstrations against Guzmán in the capital and other regions of Venezuela. These events precipitated a break of the Rojas administration with Guzmán, who sought to continue ruling indirectly from Paris. The Rojas administration had to face an uprising led by Crespo. After the rebellion was crushed, Crespo had to go into exile. Breaking with Guzmán's anti-clerical policy, Rojas brought French nuns to the country, helped the establishment of congregations, also built and remodeled many religious buildings. Rojas authorized the creation of science faculties, churches, national schools in

Maracaibo ) , motto = "''Muy noble y leal''"(English: "Very noble and loyal") , anthem = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_alt = ...

and

Barquisimeto Barquisimeto (; guc, Watkisimeeta) is a city in Venezuela. It is the capital of the state of Lara and head of Iribarren Municipality. It is an important urban, industrial, commercial and transportation center of the country, recognized as the fou ...

. He inaugurated the submarine cable between

La Guaira La Guaira () is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of the same name (formerly named Vargas) and the country's main port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, to the southeast. The town and the port were badly damaged during ...

, the

Antilles The Antilles (; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Antiy; es, Antillas; french: Antilles; nl, Antillen; ht, Antiy; pap, Antias; Jamaican Patois: ''Antiliiz'') is an archipelago bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the south and west, the Gulf of Mex ...

and Europe, the works of the painter

Martín Tovar y Tovar Martín Tovar y Tovar (10 February 1827 – 17 December 1902) was a Venezuelan painter, best known for his portraits and historical scenes. Biography Tovar was born and died in Caracas. His father, Antonio María Tovar (1791–1860), was a fo ...

at the ''Salón Elíptico'' (Elliptical Room) of the National Capitol. During his period, was published the book ''Great geographical, historical and statistics compilation of Venezuela'' authored by General Manuel Landaeta Rosales. In 1888 Rojas founded the National History Academy. His two years in the presidency were marked by an economic bonanza, of which he took advantage to invest in public works. After his presidency, he was again

in 1899. He died in

Caracas Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...

in 1905, at the age of 78.

Personal life

Juan Pablo Rojas Paúl was married to María Josefa de la Concepción Báez, who served as

First Lady of Venezuela First Lady of Venezuela (Spanish: ''Primera Dama de Venezuela'') is the unofficial title traditionally held by the wife of the president of Venezuela. The current office of the first lady is disputed. List of first ladies Non-spouse first ladie ...

from 1888 until 1890. File:María Josefa Báez Reverón.jpg, María Josefa de la Concepción Báez

References

External links

"J.P. Rojas Paul (Biography in Spanish)
by Edgar C. Otálvora" {{DEFAULTSORT:Rojas Paul, Juan Pablo Politicians from Caracas Presidents of Venezuela Venezuelan Ministers of Foreign Affairs Finance ministers of Venezuela 19th-century Venezuelan lawyers 1826 births 1905 deaths Great Liberal Party of Venezuela politicians Venezuelan people of Spanish descent

Biography

Personal life

See also

References

External links