Carlos Meléndez (politician)
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Carlos Meléndez Ramírez (1 February 1861 – 8 October 1919) was a Salvadoran politician who served as the
president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
of
El Salvador El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is S ...
from 1913 to 1914 and again from 1915 to 1918. He also served as the
president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
of the Legislative Assembly from 1912 to 1913. Meléndez's presidency was a part of the broader Meléndez–Quiñónez dynasty that ruled El Salvador from 1913 to 1927.


Early and personal life

Carlos Meléndez Ramírez was born on 1 February 1861 in
San Salvador San Salvador () is the Capital city, capital and the largest city of El Salvador and its San Salvador Department, eponymous department. It is the country's largest agglomeration, serving as the country's political, cultural, educational and fin ...
,
El Salvador El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is S ...
. His parents were Rafael Meléndez and Mercedes Ramírez de Meléndez. His maternal grandfather was
Norberto Ramírez Norberto Ramírez Áreas (15 April 1802, León, Nicaragua – 11 July 1856, León, Nicaragua) was a Nicaraguan lawyer and politician who served as acting Supreme Chief of El Salvador (20 September 1840 – 7 January 1841), still technically a p ...
, the
president of El Salvador President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
from 1840 to 1841. His siblings were Rafael, Francisco, Guillermo,
Jorge Jorge is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name George. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese . It is derived from the Greek name Γεώργιος (''Georgios ...
(who later served as president from 1919 to 1923), Leonor, Carmen, and Sor. His sister Carmen married Alfonso Quiñónez Molina, a physician. Meléndez married Sara Meza de Meléndez but did not have children.


Political career

From 1904 to 1905, 1907 to 1910, and 1912 to 1914, Meléndez served as a deputy of the Legislative Assembly. From 29 April 1912 to 1913, Meléndez served as the
president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
of the Legislative Assembly. Meléndez participated in the 1895 election, running to serve as General
Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez (24 October 1845 – 9 January 1921) was the president of El Salvador from 10 June 1894 to 13 November 1898. He was a leader of the Revolution of the 44 which overthrew President General Carlos Ezeta from April to Ju ...
's
vice president A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...
. Meléndez won 18,792 votes, or 30.91 percent, losing to Liberal opponent
Prudencio Alfaro Prudencio Alfaro Menéndez (1861 – 23 December 1915) was a Salvadoran politician who served as Vice President of El Salvador from 1895 until 1898. He later led a joint Honduran-Nicaraguan invasion of El Salvador in 1907. Early life Pru ...
. Meléndez participated in the 1903 election, running to serve as Pedro José Escalón's vice president. Meléndez won 138 votes, or 0.12 percent, coming in last place and losing to Calixto Velado Eduardo. Meléndez participated in the 1907 presidential election; he won only 8 votes, or 0.01 percent, coming in sixth place and losing to General Fernando Figueroa. On 9 February 1913, President
Manuel Enrique Araujo Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor Manuel Enrique Araujo (12 October 1865 – 9 February 1913) was a Salvadoran politician and physician who served as President of El Salvador from 1 March 1911 until his death on 9 February 1913 to his injuries sustain ...
was assassinated in San Salvador. As Araujo's vice president, Onofre Durán Santillana, had resigned prior to Araujo's assassination, Meléndez, who Araujo selected as the first designate, became the country's provisional president, serving until 29 August 1914 when he was succeeded by Quiñónez. On 12 January 1915, Meléndez was elected as president of El Salvador unopposed and assumed office on 1 March 1915; Quiñónez was his
vice president A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...
. In 1918, Meléndez formed the Red League, a paramilitary organization of the National Democratic Party (PDN) to intimidate political opponents. Meléndez considered the
Gulf of Fonseca The Gulf of Fonseca (; ), a part of the Pacific Ocean, is a gulf in Central America, bordering El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The waters of the gulf are shared among all three countries. History Fonseca Bay was discovered by European ...
to be Salvadoran territory due to historical reasons and its geographic configuration. Under Meléndez, El Salvador remained neutral during
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.


Illness and death

On 21 December 1918, Meléndez resigned due to illness and was succeeded by Quiñónez. In August 1919, Meléndez left El Salvador to the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
to seek treatment for his illness where he died in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
on 8 October 1919. His funeral was held the two days later at St. Patrick's Cathedral. His body was returned to El Salvador on the USS ''Cleveland'' protected cruiser, arriving in La Libertad on 5 November 1919.


Electoral history


References


Citations


Bibliography

*


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Melendez, Carlos 1861 births 1919 deaths People from San Salvador Salvadoran people of Spanish descent 20th-century presidents of El Salvador 20th-century Salvadoran politicians Meléndez–Quiñónez dynasty Members of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador Presidents of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador