Elías Mendoza Habersperger (August 9, 1933 – November 25, 2023) was a Peruvian lawyer, diplomat and politician, Chief Scout of Peru for the Asociación de Scouts del Perú who served as President of the InterAmerican Scout Council and a member of the

World Scout Committee The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organization in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922. It has 176 members. ...

Biography

Mendoza Habersperger was born in

Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...

on August 9, 1933. He was the son of Luis Mendoza Almenara and Dolores María Claudia Fermina Habersperger Fort. He studied at the Colegio Sagrados Corazones Recoleta. In 1950 he entered the Faculty of Sciences of the

Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos The National University of San Marcos (, UNMSM) is a public research university located in Lima, the capital of Peru. In the Americas, it is the first officially established ( privilege by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) and the oldest continu ...

but later he oriented his vocation to other directions and entered the Faculty of Letters of the

Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (, PUCP) is a private university in Lima, Peru. It was founded in 1917 with the support and approval of the Catholic church, being the oldest private institution of higher learning in the country. The Peru ...

, later moving to the Faculty of Law of San Marcos, where he graduated from high school and obtained a law degree. In addition, he studied at the School of Political Management of the Inter-American Center for Political Studies of Venezuela. He entered the Diplomatic Service by competition, working in Lima and in commissions in France and Argentina. While on his way to Buenos Aires, on his return to his diplomatic work, he learned of the coup d'état of July 18, 1962 against President

Manuel Prado Ugarteche Manuel Carlos Prado y Ugarteche (21 April 1889 – 15 August 1967) was a Peruvian politician and banker who served twice as president of Peru. Son of former President Mariano Ignacio Prado, he was born in Lima and served as the nation's 43rd ...

, for which, as soon as he stepped on Argentine soil, he resigned his duties as Vice Consul and Third Secretary at the embassy. In August of the same year he returned to Lima, and devoted himself to the legal profession. He worked as a lawyer for the Panagra aviation company, becoming Legal Manager. Mendoza Habersperger was alderman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Lima, where he served as inspector of popular and youth recreation programs and social assistance to the underprivileged old age (1963). During the first government of the architect

Fernando Belaúnde Terry Fernando is a Spanish and Portuguese given name and a surname common in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Switzerland, and former Spanish or Portuguese colonies in Latin America, Africa and Asia (like the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka). It is e ...

, he was restored to the Diplomatic Service and promoted to Second Secretary. He was, in addition, General Manager of the Charity of Lima (1966). He was briefly

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

in 1968 before the

coup d'état A coup d'état (; ; ), or simply a coup , is typically an illegal and overt attempt by a military organization or other government elites to unseat an incumbent leadership. A self-coup is said to take place when a leader, having come to powe ...

of General

Juan Velasco Alvarado Juan Francisco Velasco Alvarado (June 16, 1910 – December 24, 1977) was a Peruvian Army general, general who served as the President of Peru after a successful 1968 Peruvian coup d'état, coup d'état against Fernando Belaúnde's presidency ...

. During the dictatorship he went into

exile Exile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons ...

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 ...

and returned to

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

in 1975. He was a member of the Popular Action Party and was a Member of Parliament for Lima between 1980 and 1985. He was

President of the Chamber of Deputies 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 *'' Præsidente ...

for one year beginning 26 July 1984. In 1973, he was awarded the 82nd ''

Bronze Wolf The Bronze Wolf Award is an award presented by the World Organization of the Scout Movement for outstanding service by an individual to the Scout Movement. Just over 400 people have received the Bronze Wolf since its creation in 1935. WOSM has r ...

'', the only distinction of the

World Organization of the Scout Movement The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organization in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922. It has 176 members. ...

, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting. Mendoza Habersperger died on November 25, 2023, at the age of 90.

References

External links

1933 births 2023 deaths Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of Peru Popular Action (Peru) politicians Recipients of the Bronze Wolf Award Scouting and Guiding in Peru World Scout Committee members {{Peru-bio-stub