Bartolomé Calvo
Encyclopedia
Bartolomé Calvo Díaz de Lamadrid (August 24, 1815 – January 2, 1889) was a Colombia
n lawyer, journalist, and statesman
, who became President of the Granadine Confederation
, in what is now Colombia
, in 1861 in his role as Inspector General
, because no elections were held on that year to the decide the presidency. He also served as Governor of Panama
and Ambassador
to Ecuador
, and worked in a number of newspapers.
where he graduated in Jurisprudence
.
He was married to Isidora Martí.
After that he became editor-in-chief of La Estrella de Panamá
, the Spanish language
section of the trilingual newspaper The Daily Star & Herald. Calvo’s strong political views, however, did not meet the commercial interests of the newspaper owners, and Calvo refused to compromise his views, which lead to the closing of La Estrella and his firing.
, he named Bartolomé Calvo as his Secretary of State
. By now, racial tensions generated by the United States and the Americans living in Panama were getting very violent, Panamanians were angry that the Americans were taking all the jobs and the Americans discriminated the population. On the morning of April 15, 1856 a riot known as the Watermelon War
took place. The results of this were very hard for the administration who was blamed by the United States and had to pay substantial damages.
On August 15, 1856 the elections for Governor of Panama were held. In this ballot, Bartolomé Calvo was a candidate. The elections proved to be complicated, the white factions claimed that Calvo had been elected by a 4000 votes lead, while the black factions claimed that Manuel M. Díaz had been chosen. By September 15, the Legislative Assembly of Panama
had not yet declared a winner as required by law as the liberal radicals in the assembly wanted the Vice-Governor, who was on their side, to assume the Governorship, and they were deliberately absent in the legislature so to prevent a quorum
to pass the resolution, in the hopes that come the date of inauguration and no candidate was elected, the vice governor would then become acting governor. But by now things were starting to get tense and protest were being held. On September 18, a quorum was finally met, and the Legislative Assembly declared that Calvo had been constitutionally elected for two years.
Bartolomé Calvo took the office as Governor of the State of Panama on October 1, 1856 with Francisco Fábregas as his Vice-Governor
. Calvo eventually won over many of the opposition with his good governance and honesty. His administration was a moderate but successful one encouraging public education, and improving the finances.
In 1858, Calvo was elected Inspector General of Colombia
, and he left Panama on May 5 to go to Bogotá, ceding power to the first designate Ramon Gamboa.
In 1861 the country was enduring a Civil War
, the country was now the Granadine Confederation
, name given by the Constitution of 1858. The president Mariano Ospina Rodríguez
was barely able to control the government. That year, Congress
was shut down, and Presidential elections were not held. The Presidential term of Ospina was coming to an end, and according to the Constitution of 1858, in the absence of the Designates, which were not elected either, the Inspector General would take over the presidency. And on April 1, 1861, Bartolomé Calvo Díaz de Lamadrid became President of the Granadine Confederation as Inspector General in charge of the Executive Power.
invaded Bogotá on July 18, 1861 taking control of government and arresting many prominent figures, including Bartolomé Calvo, Mariano Ospina Rodríguez and his brother Pastor, who were taken prisoners and taken to the Bocachica Castle in Cartagena. From there, Calvo manages to escape to the Antilles
on his way to Puerto Rico
where he stayed in exile.
In 1867 he moved to Guayaquil
, Ecuador
where his brother Juan Antonio lived, and with him they establish the first newspaper of the city, Los Andes, a politically neutral newspaper that became of great importance at the time.
from the Radical Liberal Movement, and Rafael Núñez
from the National Liberal Party. In the voting held by the Senate
, no candidate held the absolute majority, and the elections went to a second round, this time in the Chamber
where the winner was declared to be Aquileo Parra.
Summary of the 1876 Colombian presidential election results
|-
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|Candidate - Party
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=center|Votes in Senate
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=center|Votes in Congress
|-
|align=left valign=top|Aquileo Parra
- Radical Liberal
|valign="center"|5
|valign="center"|48
|-
|align=left valign=top|Bartolomé Calvo - Conservative
|valign="center"|2
|valign="center"|18
|-
|align=left valign=top|Rafael Núñez
- Liberal
|valign="center"|2
|valign="center"|18
|-
|align=left valign=top|None of the above
– (Voto en Blanco)
|valign="center"|1
|valign="center"|0
|}
Minister to Ecuador
, but could not assume his post, because of the Colombian Civil War of 1885 which halted politics. On April 18, 1886 he arrived in Quito
officially taking his post.
In 1888 he was elected Senator in the Colombian Congress, but he refused the offer choosing to stay in Ecuador.
passed a law lamenting the death of the ex-president and setting funds for the repatriation
of his remains to be interred in a National Monument in the Central Cemetery of Bogota
, and also for the painting of two oil paintings, one which would hang in Congress, the other to be presented to his widow, also the creation of two bust
s in his likeness to be presented one to the Municipality of Cartagena, and the other to the Panamanian Assembly in honor and recognition of his service to the Nation.
The Library Bartolomé Calvo in Cartagena de Indias was created in his honor.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n lawyer, journalist, and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, who became President of the Granadine Confederation
Granadine Confederation
The Granadine Confederation was a short-lived federal republic established in 1858 as a result of a constitutional change replacing the Republic of New Granada. It comprised the present day nations of Colombia and Panama...
, in what is now Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, in 1861 in his role as Inspector General
Inspector General of Colombia
The Office of the Inspector General of Colombia is a Colombian independent, public institution overseeing the public conduct of those in authority or in charge of exercising a public office, and of overseeing the correct functioning of other government institutions and agencies...
, because no elections were held on that year to the decide the presidency. He also served as Governor of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, and worked in a number of newspapers.
Personal life
Bartolomé Calvo Díaz de Lamadrid was born on August 24, 1815 in Cartagena de Indias, in what was then the United Provinces of the New Granada, Orphaned at an early age, he spend his youth working in the print shop his father had left him and his brothers. He attended the University of MagdalenaUniversity of Magdalena
The University of Magdalena , is a public, departmental, coeducational, research university based in the city of Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia.-External links:* official site...
where he graduated in Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
.
He was married to Isidora Martí.
Journalism career
Calvo inherited the passion for journalism from his father, one of the oldest typographers of Cartagena. After finishing his studies, he worked for the newspapers La Civilización and La República, and then he moved to Panama where he became the publisher and editor of El Correo del Istmo.After that he became editor-in-chief of La Estrella de Panamá
La Estrella de Panamá
La Estrella de Panamá is the oldest daily newspaper in Panamá and the second oldest in South America. The newspaper originally began in 1853 as a Spanish language translation insert of an English daily, The Panama Star, which had been formed in 1849. It has a circulation of approximately 8,000...
, the Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
section of the trilingual newspaper The Daily Star & Herald. Calvo’s strong political views, however, did not meet the commercial interests of the newspaper owners, and Calvo refused to compromise his views, which lead to the closing of La Estrella and his firing.
Politics in Panama
When the Vice-Governor Francisco Fábregas took over the State as Governor in replacement of Justo ArosemenaJusto Arosemena
Justo Arosemena was a statesman, writer, lawyer and politician from Panama who lived during the period of union with Colombia...
, he named Bartolomé Calvo as his Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
. By now, racial tensions generated by the United States and the Americans living in Panama were getting very violent, Panamanians were angry that the Americans were taking all the jobs and the Americans discriminated the population. On the morning of April 15, 1856 a riot known as the Watermelon War
Watermelon War
The Watermelon War was a riot that occurred in Panama City, Panama, on the morning of April 15, 1856.-Background:From 1850 until 1903, the US military had created very strong tension between Panamanian citizens and US officials...
took place. The results of this were very hard for the administration who was blamed by the United States and had to pay substantial damages.
On August 15, 1856 the elections for Governor of Panama were held. In this ballot, Bartolomé Calvo was a candidate. The elections proved to be complicated, the white factions claimed that Calvo had been elected by a 4000 votes lead, while the black factions claimed that Manuel M. Díaz had been chosen. By September 15, the Legislative Assembly of Panama
National Assembly of Panama
The National Assembly , formerly the Legislative Assembly , is the legislative branch of the government of the Republic of Panama.It is a unicameral legislature, currently made up of 71 members, who serve five-year terms...
had not yet declared a winner as required by law as the liberal radicals in the assembly wanted the Vice-Governor, who was on their side, to assume the Governorship, and they were deliberately absent in the legislature so to prevent a quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
to pass the resolution, in the hopes that come the date of inauguration and no candidate was elected, the vice governor would then become acting governor. But by now things were starting to get tense and protest were being held. On September 18, a quorum was finally met, and the Legislative Assembly declared that Calvo had been constitutionally elected for two years.
Bartolomé Calvo took the office as Governor of the State of Panama on October 1, 1856 with Francisco Fábregas as his Vice-Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
. Calvo eventually won over many of the opposition with his good governance and honesty. His administration was a moderate but successful one encouraging public education, and improving the finances.
In 1858, Calvo was elected Inspector General of Colombia
Inspector General of Colombia
The Office of the Inspector General of Colombia is a Colombian independent, public institution overseeing the public conduct of those in authority or in charge of exercising a public office, and of overseeing the correct functioning of other government institutions and agencies...
, and he left Panama on May 5 to go to Bogotá, ceding power to the first designate Ramon Gamboa.
Presidency 1861
Colombian Civil War (1860–1862)
The Colombian Civil War of May 8 1860 to November 1862 was an internal conflict between the newly formed conservative Grenadine Confederation and a more liberal rebel force from the newly seceded region of Cauca, composed of dissatisfied politicians commanded by General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera,...
, the country was now the Granadine Confederation
Granadine Confederation
The Granadine Confederation was a short-lived federal republic established in 1858 as a result of a constitutional change replacing the Republic of New Granada. It comprised the present day nations of Colombia and Panama...
, name given by the Constitution of 1858. The president Mariano Ospina Rodríguez
Mariano Ospina Rodríguez
Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was a Colombian politician, journalist and lawyer, founder of the Colombian Conservative Party and later President of Colombia between 1857 and 1861 during the Granadine Confederation.- Biographic data :...
was barely able to control the government. That year, Congress
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
was shut down, and Presidential elections were not held. The Presidential term of Ospina was coming to an end, and according to the Constitution of 1858, in the absence of the Designates, which were not elected either, the Inspector General would take over the presidency. And on April 1, 1861, Bartolomé Calvo Díaz de Lamadrid became President of the Granadine Confederation as Inspector General in charge of the Executive Power.
Coup and exile
The forces of General Tomás Cipriano de MosqueraTomás Cipriano de Mosquera
Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda was a Colombian general and political figure. He was president of Colombia four times. The first time was as president of Republic of New Granada from 1845 to 1849. During the Colombian Civil War of 1860-1862 he led liberal forces in a civil war against...
invaded Bogotá on July 18, 1861 taking control of government and arresting many prominent figures, including Bartolomé Calvo, Mariano Ospina Rodríguez and his brother Pastor, who were taken prisoners and taken to the Bocachica Castle in Cartagena. From there, Calvo manages to escape to the Antilles
Antilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
on his way to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
where he stayed in exile.
In 1867 he moved to Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
where his brother Juan Antonio lived, and with him they establish the first newspaper of the city, Los Andes, a politically neutral newspaper that became of great importance at the time.
Elections of 1876
In 1876 Bartolomé Calvo was nominated as a candidate to the Presidency of Colombia, and returned to his country for the subsequent elections. He ran on the Conservative ballot against Aquileo ParraAquileo Parra
José Bonifacio Aquileo Elias Parra Gómez was a Colombian soldier, businessman and political figure. He was the president of Colombia between 1876 and 1878.- Biographic data :Aquileo Parra was born in Barichara, Santander, on May 12, 1825...
from the Radical Liberal Movement, and Rafael Núñez
Rafael Núñez (politician)
Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo was a Colombian author, lawyer, journalist and politician, who was elected President of Colombia in 1880 and in 1884. Rafael Núñez was born in Cartagena de Indias, on September 28, 1825. He died in Cartagena on September 18, 1894.-Early life:Little is known about the...
from the National Liberal Party. In the voting held by the Senate
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
, no candidate held the absolute majority, and the elections went to a second round, this time in the Chamber
Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
The Chamber of Representatives is the lower house of the Congress of Colombia.The Chamber has 166 elected members for four-year terms.-How the Chamber is elected:...
where the winner was declared to be Aquileo Parra.
Summary of the 1876 Colombian presidential election results
|-
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=left valign=top|Candidate - Party
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=center|Votes in Senate
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=center|Votes in Congress
|-
|align=left valign=top|Aquileo Parra
Aquileo Parra
José Bonifacio Aquileo Elias Parra Gómez was a Colombian soldier, businessman and political figure. He was the president of Colombia between 1876 and 1878.- Biographic data :Aquileo Parra was born in Barichara, Santander, on May 12, 1825...
- Radical Liberal
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
|valign="center"|5
|valign="center"|48
|-
|align=left valign=top|Bartolomé Calvo - Conservative
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
|valign="center"|2
|valign="center"|18
|-
|align=left valign=top|Rafael Núñez
Rafael Núñez (politician)
Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo was a Colombian author, lawyer, journalist and politician, who was elected President of Colombia in 1880 and in 1884. Rafael Núñez was born in Cartagena de Indias, on September 28, 1825. He died in Cartagena on September 18, 1894.-Early life:Little is known about the...
- Liberal
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
|valign="center"|2
|valign="center"|18
|-
|align=left valign=top|None of the above
None of the above
None of the Above or against all is a ballot option in some jurisdictions or organizations, designed to allow the voter to indicate disapproval of all of the candidates in a voting system...
– (Voto en Blanco)
|valign="center"|1
|valign="center"|0
|}
Ecuador
In 1884, Calvo was named PlenipotentiaryPlenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
Minister to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, but could not assume his post, because of the Colombian Civil War of 1885 which halted politics. On April 18, 1886 he arrived in Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
officially taking his post.
In 1888 he was elected Senator in the Colombian Congress, but he refused the offer choosing to stay in Ecuador.
Death and legacy
Bartolomé Calvo Díaz de Lamadrid died in Quito, on January 2, 1889 at the age of 73 leaving behind his wife and no children. On October 10 of that same year, the Congress of ColombiaCongress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
passed a law lamenting the death of the ex-president and setting funds for the repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
of his remains to be interred in a National Monument in the Central Cemetery of Bogota
Central Cemetery of Bogotá
Central Cemetery of Bogotá is one of the main and most famous cemeteries in Colombia located in Bogotá. Houses several national heroes, poets and former Colombian presidents. It was opened in 1836 and was declared National Monument in 1984...
, and also for the painting of two oil paintings, one which would hang in Congress, the other to be presented to his widow, also the creation of two bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
s in his likeness to be presented one to the Municipality of Cartagena, and the other to the Panamanian Assembly in honor and recognition of his service to the Nation.
The Library Bartolomé Calvo in Cartagena de Indias was created in his honor.
See also
- Colombian Civil War (1860–1862)Colombian Civil War (1860–1862)The Colombian Civil War of May 8 1860 to November 1862 was an internal conflict between the newly formed conservative Grenadine Confederation and a more liberal rebel force from the newly seceded region of Cauca, composed of dissatisfied politicians commanded by General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera,...
- Granadine ConfederationGranadine ConfederationThe Granadine Confederation was a short-lived federal republic established in 1858 as a result of a constitutional change replacing the Republic of New Granada. It comprised the present day nations of Colombia and Panama...
- Clímaco CalderónClímaco CalderónClímaco Calderón Reyes was a Colombian lawyer, statesman and diplomat, who became President of Colombia for one day, following the death of President Francisco Javier Zaldúa.- Biographic data :...