Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Brin (8 February 1888 – 28 April 1970) was

President of Panama This article lists the heads of state of Panama since the short-lived first independence from the Republic of New Granada in 1840 and the final Separation of Panama from Colombia, separation from Colombia in 1903. Since 1904 the head of state of ...

from 15 June 1945 to 7 August 1948, representing the National Liberal Party of

Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

. Jiménez Brin was appointed private secretary of President Belisario Porras Barahona at the age of 25, deputy

Minister of State Minister of state is a designation for a government minister, with varying meanings in different jurisdictions. In a number of European countries, the title is given as an honorific conferring a higher rank, often bestowed upon senior minister ...

, president of the

National Bank of Panama The National Bank of Panama () (BNP) is one of two Panamanian government-owned banks. As of January 2009, it held deposits of about US$5 billion. The other government-owned bank is ''Caja de Ahorros de Panamá'' (Savings Bank of Panama), with about ...

and

ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or so ...

of Panama 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 ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, an important post due to the authority exercised by the U.S. over Panama due to its ownership of the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal () is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a Channel (geography), conduit for maritime trade between th ...

. He was elected the first presidential designate by the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...

for the 1924–1926 term and a second time for the 1934–1936 term. In June 1945, he was appointed president of the Republic of Panama by the Constituent National Assembly, and remained in office until 7 August 1948.

Achievements

During his term in office, Jiménez's achievements included: * Tocumen International Airport was constructed * The Colón Free Trade Zone was created * The Felix Olivares school in Chiriquí Province and Abel Bravorew school in Colón were established * The School of Mechanical Currency Arts was created * New buildings for the Artes y Oficos school were added * Legislation supporting education and university autonomy were written * Promoted commercial development, such as the university city and the Hotel El Panama (which later became the Panama Hilton) Among his notable books are: * '' (Political Reminiscences)'' * ''For History and Memories''

Significance to Panama

* He is

patriarch The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Roman Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and ...

of one Panama's most recognized and honorable families, who remain involved in politics * Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport in

Colón, Panama Colón () is a city and Port#Seaport, seaport in Panama, beside the Caribbean Sea, lying near the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal. It is the capital of Panama's Colón Province and has traditionally been known as Panama's se ...

was named for him

References

1888 births 1970 deaths 20th-century presidents of Panama Vice presidents of Panama National Liberal Party (Panama) politicians Ambassadors of Panama to the United States {{Panama-politician-stub