Ismael Montes
Encyclopedia
Ismael Montes Gamboa was a Bolivia
n general
and political figure. He served as the President of Bolivia
between 1904 and 1909 and again between 1913 and 1917.
Born into an affluent land-owning family from the rural department of La Paz in 1861, Montes fought valiantly in the War of the Pacific
against Chile and then studied law. Rejoining the active service for the 1899 Civil War, he commanded a number of Liberal/Federalist forces and was appointed Minister of War in the administration of José Manuel Pando
. Possessed of an adventurous temperament, he also saw action in the 1903 Acre War against Brazil. Earlier, he had become Pando's hand-picked successor. After he won the 1904 Presidential election, his first term in office was successful. Under the leadership of the Liberal party, the government made large-scale investments in infrastructure projects vital for Bolivia's growing economy, such as in roads and railways which integrated the urban centers of this mountainous country.
More controversially, it fell to Montes to sign the peace treaty with Chile, which had been pending since the War of the Pacific
almost 25 years earlier. As a result, Bolivia officially recognized the loss of its entire maritime cost in exchange for a few meaningless concessions and a sum of money. The deal he cut with Chile was unfavorable, but Bolivia had decisively lost the war. Chile was firmly in control of the previously Bolivian territories. Montes felt that his country had little choice on the matter.
In 1908, the officialist (Liberal Party
) candidate Fernando Guachalla won the Presidential elections, but died of natural causes before the scheduled swearing-in ceremony. This provided Montes with the excuse to invalidate the elections since he did not fully trust Guachalla's Vice-Presidential running mate, Eufronio Viscarra. With the motto "once the tree dies, so do its branches" the President prevailed upon Congress to extend his term by one year pending the calling of fresh elections. This earned him a number of enemies and began to undermine his popularity, but did not prevent the election of a trusted Montes man, Eliodoro Villazón
, who took possession in August, 1909.
Villazón's term (1909-1913) had been peaceful and relatively prosperous, at least from the narrow perspective of the mostly-white and creole elites that participatd in the running of the country. This prompted Montes to run for re-election in the 1913 presidential contest, a taboo in the largely personalistic world of Bolivian politics. The result was the defection of many Liberals who, 2 years later, would join the Republican Party of former President José Manuel Pando
and José Maria Escalier. But Montes was elected in 1913, and his second term was as troubled as his first had been successful. An increasingly assertive opposition (Republicans and Conservatives) agitated for a coup against Montes, and dispossessed peasants and workers demanded more rights. Meanwhile, the economy had deteriorated considerably as a result of the global recession precipitated by the First World War. A curfew had to be invoked on at least one occasion, and various opposition leaders were jailed and exiled.
Montes was able to finish his second term and in 1917 transferred power to his hand-picked successor, the blue-blooded José Gutiérrez Guerra. Montes remained an influential political figure even after the 1920 revolt that brought to power the Republican Party. He even insisted on being assigned a (largely symbolic) military role at the onset of the Chaco War
against Paraguay (1932-35), when he was already in his 70s. He died soon thereafter, in October 1933.
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and political figure. He served as the President of Bolivia
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
between 1904 and 1909 and again between 1913 and 1917.
Born into an affluent land-owning family from the rural department of La Paz in 1861, Montes fought valiantly in the War of the Pacific
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
against Chile and then studied law. Rejoining the active service for the 1899 Civil War, he commanded a number of Liberal/Federalist forces and was appointed Minister of War in the administration of José Manuel Pando
José Manuel Pando
José Manuel Inocencio Pando Solares was President of Bolivia between October 1899 and August 1904. Born in Luribay , he studied medicine, joined the army during the War of the Pacific against Chile , and later dedicated himself to exploring his country's vast and thinly populated lowland forests...
. Possessed of an adventurous temperament, he also saw action in the 1903 Acre War against Brazil. Earlier, he had become Pando's hand-picked successor. After he won the 1904 Presidential election, his first term in office was successful. Under the leadership of the Liberal party, the government made large-scale investments in infrastructure projects vital for Bolivia's growing economy, such as in roads and railways which integrated the urban centers of this mountainous country.
More controversially, it fell to Montes to sign the peace treaty with Chile, which had been pending since the War of the Pacific
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
almost 25 years earlier. As a result, Bolivia officially recognized the loss of its entire maritime cost in exchange for a few meaningless concessions and a sum of money. The deal he cut with Chile was unfavorable, but Bolivia had decisively lost the war. Chile was firmly in control of the previously Bolivian territories. Montes felt that his country had little choice on the matter.
In 1908, the officialist (Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Bolivia)
The Liberal Party was one of two major political parties in Bolivia in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The other was the Conservative Party. The Liberal Party was formally founded in 1883 by Eliodoro Camacho...
) candidate Fernando Guachalla won the Presidential elections, but died of natural causes before the scheduled swearing-in ceremony. This provided Montes with the excuse to invalidate the elections since he did not fully trust Guachalla's Vice-Presidential running mate, Eufronio Viscarra. With the motto "once the tree dies, so do its branches" the President prevailed upon Congress to extend his term by one year pending the calling of fresh elections. This earned him a number of enemies and began to undermine his popularity, but did not prevent the election of a trusted Montes man, Eliodoro Villazón
Eliodoro Villazón
Eliodoro Villazón was a member of the Liberal party and Constitutional President of his country, Bolivia, between 1909 and 1913....
, who took possession in August, 1909.
Villazón's term (1909-1913) had been peaceful and relatively prosperous, at least from the narrow perspective of the mostly-white and creole elites that participatd in the running of the country. This prompted Montes to run for re-election in the 1913 presidential contest, a taboo in the largely personalistic world of Bolivian politics. The result was the defection of many Liberals who, 2 years later, would join the Republican Party of former President José Manuel Pando
José Manuel Pando
José Manuel Inocencio Pando Solares was President of Bolivia between October 1899 and August 1904. Born in Luribay , he studied medicine, joined the army during the War of the Pacific against Chile , and later dedicated himself to exploring his country's vast and thinly populated lowland forests...
and José Maria Escalier. But Montes was elected in 1913, and his second term was as troubled as his first had been successful. An increasingly assertive opposition (Republicans and Conservatives) agitated for a coup against Montes, and dispossessed peasants and workers demanded more rights. Meanwhile, the economy had deteriorated considerably as a result of the global recession precipitated by the First World War. A curfew had to be invoked on at least one occasion, and various opposition leaders were jailed and exiled.
Montes was able to finish his second term and in 1917 transferred power to his hand-picked successor, the blue-blooded José Gutiérrez Guerra. Montes remained an influential political figure even after the 1920 revolt that brought to power the Republican Party. He even insisted on being assigned a (largely symbolic) military role at the onset of the Chaco War
Chaco War
The Chaco War was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region of South America, which was incorrectly thought to be rich in oil. It is also referred to as La Guerra de la Sed in literary circles for being fought in the semi-arid Chaco...
against Paraguay (1932-35), when he was already in his 70s. He died soon thereafter, in October 1933.