Patricio Escobar (March 17, 1843 – April 19, 1912) was the

President of Paraguay The president of Paraguay ( es, Presidente del Paraguay), officially known as the President of the Republic of Paraguay ( es, Presidente de la República del Paraguay), is according to the Constitution of Paraguay the head of the executive bran ...

between November 25, 1886 and November 25, 1890.

His life

He was born in San José de los Arroyos on March 17, 1843. His parents were José Escobar and Ana Bella Cáceres. He was first married with Ignacia Garcete, and later in his life with Estalación E. The General Escobar was a hero in the War of Paraguay against the Triple Alliance. He was a private in the base of arms in Cerro León, later he joined the Battalion of Infantry No. 36. He was promoted to first officer in May 1866 and second lieutenant after the battle in Curupayty. He was adjutant of Marshal López in 1867 in the Headquarters of Paso Pucú. He became Coronel in Cerro Corá. He was assigned difficult missions because he had a calm demeanour and cautioness. His body reflected what the situation in battle was like since he was covered in scars that gave testimony of his heroic acts. He was imprisoned by the enemies, but after being freed he went back immediately to the army. During his government,

Salvador Jovellanos Salvador Silvestre del Rosario Jovellanos Guanes (December 31, 1833 – February 11, 1881) was a Paraguayan politician. He served as Vice President of Paraguay, Vice President in 1871, and President of Paraguay, President from December 18, 1871 � ...

promoted Escobar to Brigadier General on July 16, 1874 and Juan B. Gill promoted him to Major General, on July 6, 1876. When he retired from military duty he shut away in his home, where he died on April 19, 1912.

His government

He assumed the presidency on November 25, 1886. General Escobar started his government with three military men and two civilians. His Vice-President was José del Rosario Miranda and his cabinet was formed by Agustín Cañete,

Higinio Uriarte José Higinio Uriarte y García del Barrio (11 January 1843 in Asunción – 21 April 1909) was a Paraguayan politician and President from April 12, 1877 to November 25, 1878. He was Juan Bautista Gill's cousin. He served as President of the Ch ...

and José Tomás Sosa in Treasury; Juan Antonio Meza and Manuel A. Maciel in the Department of Interior, Manuel A. Maciel and César Gondra in the Justice Department; Pedro Duarte in War and Navy; and Benjamín Aceval,

José Segundo Decoud José Segundo Decoud Domecq (14 May 1848 – 3 March 1909) was a Paraguayan politician, journalist, diplomat and military officer. He is often considered one of the foremost intellectuals of his generation, and was also one of the first liberals ...

, Juan Crisóstomo Centurión and José Tomás Sosa in the State Department. During his government the Democratic Center, the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

(Blue) and the Colorado Party (Red) were founded. On October 24, 1887 the National Council of Education was created. Was enacted the law of obligatory primary education, the Paraguayan teacher Atanasio Riera, graduated in Corrientes and writer of “Primera memoria sobre Educación común” (First memories about Common Education), returned to the country. That same year the treaty Aceval-Tamayo, with

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

was signed, the Agricultural Bank and the Official Newspaper were created. On July 20, 1888 the Law School was re-opened and on September 11 died the professor, writer and Argentine ex-president

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (; born Domingo Faustino Fidel Valentín Sarmiento y Albarracín; 15 February 1811 – 11 September 1888) was an Argentine activist, intellectual, writer, statesman and the second President of Argentina. His writing s ...

, who collaborated in the creation of new educative plans. In 1890

Adela and Celsa Speratti Adela Speratti (1865–1902) and Celsa Speratti (1868–1938) were Paraguayan sisters who were instrumental in developing the educational system of the country. Born during the War of the Triple Alliance, in which their father was killed, the sist ...

return to the country after their exile and organized the School of Teachers. General Escobar gave special importance to the development of education as a sign of progress for the country. On September 24, 1889 the

National University A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. Some national universities are associated with national cultural or po ...

was founded and two years before the National Library, Paraguay participated in the First International American Conference, organized in Washington and was created the Bank of Paraguay. The law that established the purposes and conditions of the secondary teaching was approved and public schools were created in Villa Rica, Encarnación, Pilar and Concepción. The rail tracks were extended from Paraguarí to Villa Rica, hiring the Company Patri, Travassos and Cía. for the purpose, later the work was given to an

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company. The electric power was also installed in the country for the first time. He served as

President of the Senate President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the speaker in some other assemblies. The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for ex ...

in 1894 and in 1902.

Bravery in Ype-Cuá

During the war, in the middle of December, 1868, the hopes of escaping for the Paraguayan troops seemed impossible because they did not know the resources of the enemy and did not have the necessary information. Since he could not feel helpless, Patricio crossed swimming the Ype-Cuá brook. He crossed the 35 kilometers risking being bitten by snakes and other animals that used to live in the water. He was a true patriot, and in spite of being tired and having a wound in the chest he managed to collect the necessary information. “The hero of Ype-Cuá”. General Patricio Escobar should have been distinguished with this appropriate denomination and go into history because of his heroic doings and his great courage. But this did not happen. He did not get many recognitions and honors. Just some authors gave him enough credit and tell about his heroic deeds.

References

Biografias y vidas
{{DEFAULTSORT:Escobar, Patricio Presidents of Paraguay Presidents of the Senate of Paraguay 1843 births 1912 deaths Colorado Party (Paraguay) politicians Paraguayan military personnel