Gregorio de Laferrère
Encyclopedia
Gregorio de Laferrère was an Argentine politician and playwright.
to Mercedes Pereda, a local heiress, and Alfonso de Laferrère, a prominent French Argentine
landowner. One of three brothers, he earned his secondary school education at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
. He began a career in journalism, and wrote for the satirical El Fígaro briefly under the pseudonym of "Abel Stewart Escalada." Joining his family for a visit to Paris
on the occasion of the 1889 World's Fair
, he lost his father to a sudden illness while in the French capital; there, however, he became acquainted with the theatre after attending a number of performances of Molière
's works by the Comédie-Française
.
Returning to Argentina, he joined a friend, writer José María Miró, as an active member of the ruling National Autonomist Party
, and in 1891, was elected the first Mayor of Morón
, a newly established town west of Buenos Aires; taking office after a heated campaign, he reportedly arrived at City Hall for his inaugural in disguise. He resigned his post in 1892, and approached the new leader of the Radical Civic Union
, universal male suffrage activist Hipólito Yrigoyen
, in search of alliance that ultimately did not materialize. He was elected on the centrist National Party ticket to the Buenos Aires Province
Legislature in 1893, and in 1897, established the splinter Independent National Party; on this latter ticket, Laferrère was elected to the Lower House of Congress
in 1898.
Reelected in 1902, the following year he established the "Popular Association," advocating direct democracy
. Laferrère relied on his membership in the elite Officers' Association, by virtue of his family ties, to organize a public forum facing the institution's palatial headquarters
, where he held forth almost daily, and heard appeals, both personal and of a policy nature, from the city's poor.
Laferrère had, from an early age, written as a hobby, without having published his work. Long a patron of the former San Martín Theatre on Buenos Aires' downtown Esmeralda Street, he first had a play, ¡Jettatore! ("Evil Eye"), staged in 1904. The slice of life comedy, written in a vaudeville
format, included President Julio Roca among its audience during its May 30 premiere, and went on to become a box office success. He was reunited with the prestigious Jerónimo Podestá Theatre Company for the May 6, 1905, premiere of his second play, Locos de verano ("Summer Madness"). The satire on prevailing social mores was also successful, and ran for eighty consecutive showings (unusual for the time in the local theatre).
Following the 1906 production of Bajo la garra ("Into the Clutches"), a tragedy dealing with the consequences of malicious gossip, Laferrère secured congressional funding for the Lavardén Dramatic Conservatory, the first of its type in Argentina. The group produced his fourth and most successful play, Las de Barranco ("Barranco's Girls"), which premiered on April 24, 1908. The play, a work of social criticism dealing with a military officer's death and his nearly destitute widow's efforts to marry her three daughters off to moneyed bachelors, ran for 146 performances, and in 1921, was staged for a Paris
revival.
Immersed in his work, the noted playwright retired from Congress in 1908, and in 1911, produced Los invisibles with Pablo Podestá's company. The comedy, centered on an otherwise ordinary shopkeeper's sudden obsession with ghosts, was less successful than its predecessors, however. He joined Honorio Luque and Dr. Pedro Luro (who had earlier developed what became the Villa Luro
section of Buenos Aires) in a real estate venture southwest of the rapidly-growing capital in 1911. The location capitalized on the imminent arrival of the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway
line, and was a modest success in its early years.
Following a brief illness, however, Gregorio de Laferrère died in Buenos Aires in 1913, at age 46. His business partners subsequently renamed the new settlement in his honor.
Life and work
Gregorio de Laferrère was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
to Mercedes Pereda, a local heiress, and Alfonso de Laferrère, a prominent French Argentine
French Argentine
A French Argentine is an Argentine citizen of full or partial French ancestry. French Argentines form the third or fourth largest ancestry group after Italian Argentines, Spanish Argentines, and perhaps German Argentines...
landowner. One of three brothers, he earned his secondary school education at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires is a public high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the tradition of the European gymnasium it provides a free education that includes classical languages such as Latin and Greek. The school is one of the most prestigious in Argentina...
. He began a career in journalism, and wrote for the satirical El Fígaro briefly under the pseudonym of "Abel Stewart Escalada." Joining his family for a visit to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on the occasion of the 1889 World's Fair
Exposition Universelle (1889)
The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France from 6 May to 31 October 1889.It was held during the year of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the symbol for the beginning of the French Revolution...
, he lost his father to a sudden illness while in the French capital; there, however, he became acquainted with the theatre after attending a number of performances of Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's works by the Comédie-Française
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
.
Returning to Argentina, he joined a friend, writer José María Miró, as an active member of the ruling National Autonomist Party
National Autonomist Party
The National Autonomist Party was an Argentine political party during the 1874-1916 period. Created on March 15, 1874 by the union of the Autonomist Party of Adolfo Alsina and the National Party of Nicolás Avellaneda...
, and in 1891, was elected the first Mayor of Morón
Morón, Buenos Aires
Morón is a city in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires, capital of the Morón Partido, located in the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area, at...
, a newly established town west of Buenos Aires; taking office after a heated campaign, he reportedly arrived at City Hall for his inaugural in disguise. He resigned his post in 1892, and approached the new leader of the Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
, universal male suffrage activist Hipólito Yrigoyen
Hipólito Yrigoyen
Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Irigoyen Alem was twice President of Argentina . His activism became the prime impetus behind the obtainment of universal suffrage in Argentina in 1912...
, in search of alliance that ultimately did not materialize. He was elected on the centrist National Party ticket to the Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
Legislature in 1893, and in 1897, established the splinter Independent National Party; on this latter ticket, Laferrère was elected to the Lower House of Congress
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
in 1898.
Reelected in 1902, the following year he established the "Popular Association," advocating direct democracy
Direct democracy
Direct democracy is a form of government in which people vote on policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives. Direct democracy is classically termed "pure democracy"...
. Laferrère relied on his membership in the elite Officers' Association, by virtue of his family ties, to organize a public forum facing the institution's palatial headquarters
Paz Palace
The Paz Palace is a former mansion in Buenos Aires, Argentina, housing the Military Officers' Association, a social club maintained by the Argentine military.-Overview:...
, where he held forth almost daily, and heard appeals, both personal and of a policy nature, from the city's poor.
Laferrère had, from an early age, written as a hobby, without having published his work. Long a patron of the former San Martín Theatre on Buenos Aires' downtown Esmeralda Street, he first had a play, ¡Jettatore! ("Evil Eye"), staged in 1904. The slice of life comedy, written in a vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
format, included President Julio Roca among its audience during its May 30 premiere, and went on to become a box office success. He was reunited with the prestigious Jerónimo Podestá Theatre Company for the May 6, 1905, premiere of his second play, Locos de verano ("Summer Madness"). The satire on prevailing social mores was also successful, and ran for eighty consecutive showings (unusual for the time in the local theatre).
Following the 1906 production of Bajo la garra ("Into the Clutches"), a tragedy dealing with the consequences of malicious gossip, Laferrère secured congressional funding for the Lavardén Dramatic Conservatory, the first of its type in Argentina. The group produced his fourth and most successful play, Las de Barranco ("Barranco's Girls"), which premiered on April 24, 1908. The play, a work of social criticism dealing with a military officer's death and his nearly destitute widow's efforts to marry her three daughters off to moneyed bachelors, ran for 146 performances, and in 1921, was staged for a Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
revival.
Immersed in his work, the noted playwright retired from Congress in 1908, and in 1911, produced Los invisibles with Pablo Podestá's company. The comedy, centered on an otherwise ordinary shopkeeper's sudden obsession with ghosts, was less successful than its predecessors, however. He joined Honorio Luque and Dr. Pedro Luro (who had earlier developed what became the Villa Luro
Villa Luro
Villa Luro is a barrio of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is located in the western part of Capital Federal.The district owes its name to Dr. Pedro Luro, a prominent local physician and real-estate developer who, during the 1870s, sold most of his property in the area as residential lots.-External...
section of Buenos Aires) in a real estate venture southwest of the rapidly-growing capital in 1911. The location capitalized on the imminent arrival of the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway
Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway
The Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway was one of the Big Four broad gauge, , British-owned companies that built and operated railway networks in Argentina....
line, and was a modest success in its early years.
Following a brief illness, however, Gregorio de Laferrère died in Buenos Aires in 1913, at age 46. His business partners subsequently renamed the new settlement in his honor.