Nicolás García Jerez (28 January 1757 – 31 July 1825) was a Spanish bishop, who also served as a governor of
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...
, and played an important role in Nicaraguan independence.
He was appointed
Bishop of Nicaragua
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
in 1806, ordained in 1810, and held the position until his death in 1825.
Role in Nicaraguan independence
When independence movements began in Latin America, the Nicaraguan church was divided over political issues. The high ranking churches supported Spanish rulers, while low level priests supported priests. García Jerez decided to negotiate with pro-independence figures and proposed elections for each barrios. The elections were supposed to clear the way for forming a junta. Most priests were under his control. However, in 1811, he declared himself the governor of Nicaragua and threatened to punish rebellion by death penalty, when the movement began to lose favor.
See also
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History of Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a nation in Central America. It is located about midway between Mexico and Colombia, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. Nicaragua ranges from the Caribbean Sea on the nation's east coast, and the Pacific Oc ...
References
External links and additional sources
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(for Chronology of Bishops)
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(for Chronology of Bishops)
1825 deaths
People from León, Nicaragua
1756 births
Spanish Roman Catholic bishops in North America
19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Nicaragua
Roman Catholic bishops of León in Nicaragua
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