Bruno Carranza Ramírez
Encyclopedia
José Bruno Carranza Ramírez (October 5, 1822 - January 25, 1891) was briefly President
of Costa Rica
(albeit with the title Temporary Head of the Republic) in 1870. Bruno Carranza came to power in the coup d'état
of 27 April 1870 that deposed President Jesús Jiménez
. He resigned three months later.
His parents were Miguel Carranza Fernández
(Vice-Head of State between 1838 and 1841) and Joaquina Ramírez y García. In 1847 he married Gerónima Montealegre
, sister of President José María Montealegre Fernández
.
.
After returning to Costa Rica he practiced both privately and in the State-run Hospital San Juan de Dios. He was inspector general of vaccinations and proto-medicines. He served in Nicaragua
as a military doctor during the 1856 Campaign against William Walker
, but had to return almost immediately due to a Costa Rican Army retreat and a cholera
epidemic.
He also worked as a journalist, publishing several newsletters and newspapers such as El Álbum ("The Album") and La Estrella del Irazú
("The Irazú Star"). He was also active in other diverse economic and commercial ventures, and among other businesses he owned coffee plantations, a book store, and a boutique. From 1855 to 1859 he was awarded the administration of the National Liquor Factory
and thus became the only official State supplier of alcohol.
administration. He became the Costa Rican ambassador to El Salvador
in 1857. He represented San José in the Constituent Assembly of 1869, although he stepped down soon after his election. Politically he was considered a liberal, sometimes even anti-clerical, and was exiled more than once because of his political beliefs.
The coup d'état of 27 April 1870 turned him into the head of state with the official title of Temporary Head of the Republic (in Spanish Jefe Provisorio de la República). During his administration the district of Limón
was created, laws outlining personal and religious freedoms were dictated, and a law of guarantees was passed which for the first time in the country's history banned the death penalty. The so-called Secretarías de Estado were also regulated and new elections for a Constituent Assembly were held.
The principal figure in his administration and author of his policies towards external relations and freedom of creed was the Guatemalan lawyer Lorenzo Montúfar y Rivera
, noted advocated of anti-clericalism. Other notable Secretaries of State during his time in office were Joaquín Lizano Gutiérrez (government, police, justice, agriculture, and industry), Rafael Gallegos Sáenz
(housing and commerce), and Buenaventura Carazo Alvarado (war, navy, and public works).
Due to differences with Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
on August 8, 1870 he presented his resignation to the Constituent Assembly, which was accepted the next day on August 9. General Guardia succeeded him.
He was later a member of the Grand National Counsel and Plenipotentiary Minister of Costa Rica in El Salvador, where he signed the Carranza-Arbizú Accord.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
(albeit with the title Temporary Head of the Republic) in 1870. Bruno Carranza came to power in the coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of 27 April 1870 that deposed President Jesús Jiménez
Jesús Jiménez Zamora
Jesús María Ciriaco Jiménez Zamora was President of Costa Rica on two occasions:1863 to 1866, and 1868 to 1870.He was popularly elected in 1863, but dissolved Congress two months into his term of office. During his presidency he granted asylum to former Salvadoran President Gen...
. He resigned three months later.
His parents were Miguel Carranza Fernández
Miguel Carranza Fernández
Miguel Carranza Fernández was a Costa Rican politician....
(Vice-Head of State between 1838 and 1841) and Joaquina Ramírez y García. In 1847 he married Gerónima Montealegre
Gerónima Montealegre
Gerónima Montealegre Fernández de Carranza Ramírez was First Lady of Costa Rica and wife of Temporary Head of State Bruno Carranza...
, sister of President José María Montealegre Fernández
José María Montealegre Fernández
José María Montealegre Fernández was President of Costa Rica from 1859 to 1863.Born into a wealthy family of coffee plantation owners, he was sent to study medicine in Aberdeen, where he graduated as a surgeon....
.
Studies and Career
Carranza graduated in medicine from the University of San Carlos in GuatemalaGuatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.
After returning to Costa Rica he practiced both privately and in the State-run Hospital San Juan de Dios. He was inspector general of vaccinations and proto-medicines. He served in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
as a military doctor during the 1856 Campaign against William Walker
William Walker
William Walker may refer to:* William Walker , sometime chief of the Wyandot Nation in Ohio and Kansas* William Walker * William Walker , an early governor of British Guiana...
, but had to return almost immediately due to a Costa Rican Army retreat and a cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic.
He also worked as a journalist, publishing several newsletters and newspapers such as El Álbum ("The Album") and La Estrella del Irazú
Irazú Volcano National Park
Irazú Volcano National Park, or in Spanish the ', is a National Park in the Central Volcanic Conservation Area of Costa Rica that encompasses the area around the Irazú Volcano in Cartago Province which incorporates what used to be the Ruben Torres Rojas Forest Reserve now called the Prusia Forest...
("The Irazú Star"). He was also active in other diverse economic and commercial ventures, and among other businesses he owned coffee plantations, a book store, and a boutique. From 1855 to 1859 he was awarded the administration of the National Liquor Factory
Guaro (drink)
This page is about the drink, for other uses, see GuaroGuaro is the name of a kind of liquor in many places in South and Central America. It is a clear liquor made from sugar cane, and has a slightly sweeter taste than comparable liquors...
and thus became the only official State supplier of alcohol.
Public office
He was deputy for several periods under the Mora PorrasJuan Rafael Mora Porras
Juan Rafael Mora Porras was President of Costa Rica from 1849 to 1859.He first assumed the presidency following José María Castro's resignation and was subsequently reelected in 1853 and 1859....
administration. He became the Costa Rican ambassador to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
in 1857. He represented San José in the Constituent Assembly of 1869, although he stepped down soon after his election. Politically he was considered a liberal, sometimes even anti-clerical, and was exiled more than once because of his political beliefs.
The coup d'état of 27 April 1870 turned him into the head of state with the official title of Temporary Head of the Republic (in Spanish Jefe Provisorio de la República). During his administration the district of Limón
Limón
Puerto Limón, commonly known as Limón , is the capital city and main hub of Limón province, as well as of the cantón of Limón in Costa Rica. It has a population of about 60,000 , and is home to a thriving Afro-Caribbean community...
was created, laws outlining personal and religious freedoms were dictated, and a law of guarantees was passed which for the first time in the country's history banned the death penalty. The so-called Secretarías de Estado were also regulated and new elections for a Constituent Assembly were held.
The principal figure in his administration and author of his policies towards external relations and freedom of creed was the Guatemalan lawyer Lorenzo Montúfar y Rivera
Lorenzo Montúfar y Rivera
Lorenzo Montúfar y Rivera was a Guatemalan politician and lawyer. He was the son of Rafael Montúfar y Coronado and Maria del Rosario Rivera...
, noted advocated of anti-clericalism. Other notable Secretaries of State during his time in office were Joaquín Lizano Gutiérrez (government, police, justice, agriculture, and industry), Rafael Gallegos Sáenz
Rafael Gallegos Sáenz
Rafael Gallegos Sáenz was a Costa Rican politician....
(housing and commerce), and Buenaventura Carazo Alvarado (war, navy, and public works).
Due to differences with Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez
General Tomás Miguel Guardia Gutiérrez was President of Costa Rica on two occasions:from 1870 to 1876, and from 1877 to 1882....
on August 8, 1870 he presented his resignation to the Constituent Assembly, which was accepted the next day on August 9. General Guardia succeeded him.
He was later a member of the Grand National Counsel and Plenipotentiary Minister of Costa Rica in El Salvador, where he signed the Carranza-Arbizú Accord.