José Francisco de Peralta
Encyclopedia
José Francisco de Peralta y López del Corral (April 3, 1786 - September 16, 1844) was a Costa Rica
n priest
and politician
. He was born in Cartago, Costa Rica
, the son of José María de Peralta y La Vega and Ana Benita de Nava López del Corral. Peralta attended the University of León and was ordained as a pastor in León, Nicaragua
in 1812. He was named a parish priest for the village Olocuilta
, El Salvador
.
In 1822, Costa Rica elected Peralta to represent it in the First Constituent Congress of the Mexican Empire
, but he did not attend the Congress, because he did not receive instruction from the municipal council of Cost Rican until September, too late to arrive before Iturbide
abolished the Congress in October. In 1825, he was elected Deputy for Costa Rica to the Congress of the Federal Republic of Central America
, a post which he held until 1826, during which he participated in the legislation of several important laws, including the annexation of the Partido de Nicoya
to Costa Rica.
From 1827 to 1828 Peralta was a Deputy for Ujarrás
in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Costa Rica, and in November, 1829, he was elected to represent Costa Rica in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Central America
. From 1832 to 1833 he was the Deputy for Santa Cruz, Costa Rica
in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Costa Rica. Peralta served as President of the Assembly from September 1832 to February 1833 and from July 1833 to September 1833.
In 1835, Peralta participated in the Costa Rican civil war
, the Guerra de la Liga ("War of the League") against Head of State Braulio Carrillo Colina
. For this reason, his property was seized by the state and he had to flee in exile.
Peralta had been an enthusiastic admirer of General Francisco Morazán Quesada, who he honored during the general's stay in Cartago, Costa Rica
in 1834. Peralta was one of the most prominent supporters of the government of General Francisco Morazán, who rose to power on 12 April 1842. As a result, Peralta was elected Deputy for Cartago to the Constituent Assembly convened by Morazán, which began on 10 July 1842 in San José, Costa Rica
. Peralta was named President of the Assembly. Among the legislative projects that he pushed were the creation of the college San Luis Gozaga in Cartago, which would not actually open until 1869.
Peralta died in Cartago on 16 September 1844, after an accident riding a horse. He left an important bequest
for the foundation of a school for the children of Cartago, an institution which retains his name today. In the city a bust in honor of Peralta was unveiled in 1917.
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....
n priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was born in Cartago, Costa Rica
Cartago, Costa Rica
- See also :* Cartago Agrarian Union Party* Provincial Integration Party Three* Cartago in Spanish...
, the son of José María de Peralta y La Vega and Ana Benita de Nava López del Corral. Peralta attended the University of León and was ordained as a pastor in León, Nicaragua
León, Nicaragua
León is a department in northwestern Nicaragua . It is also the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches...
in 1812. He was named a parish priest for the village Olocuilta
Olocuilta
Olocuilta is a municipality in the La Paz department of El Salvador, just a few kilometers down the highway from Santo Tomás. This town is well-known for rice flour pupusas Since it is on the main highway which connects San Salvador with the airport and the other main highway, which goes along the...
, 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 1822, Costa Rica elected Peralta to represent it in the First Constituent Congress of the Mexican Empire
Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the...
, but he did not attend the Congress, because he did not receive instruction from the municipal council of Cost Rican until September, too late to arrive before Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Aramburu , also known as Augustine I of Mexico, was a Mexican army general who built a successful political and military coalition that was able to march into Mexico City on 27 September 1821, decisively ending the Mexican War of Independence...
abolished the Congress in October. In 1825, he was elected Deputy for Costa Rica to the Congress of the Federal Republic of Central America
Federal Republic of Central America
The Federal Republic of Central America, known as the United Provinces of Central America in its first year of creation, was a sovereign state in Central America, which consisted of the territories of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala of New Spain...
, a post which he held until 1826, during which he participated in the legislation of several important laws, including the annexation of the Partido de Nicoya
Partido de Nicoya
The Partido de Nicoya was a major part of what is now the Guanacaste province in Costa Rica. Originally the territory was bounded on the northeast by the La Flor river and Lake Cocibolca, or Lake Nicaragua, on the south by Costa Rica , and on the east by a line that joins the northernmost part of...
to Costa Rica.
From 1827 to 1828 Peralta was a Deputy for Ujarrás
Ujarrás
Ujarrás is a village and historical site in the Orosí Valley of Cartago Province in central Costa Rica, southeast of the provincial capital of Cartago. It lies near the northeastern bank of the man-made Lake Cachí, created by the damming of the Reventazon River. The dam lies adjacent to the village...
in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Costa Rica, and in November, 1829, he was elected to represent Costa Rica in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Central America
Federal Republic of Central America
The Federal Republic of Central America, known as the United Provinces of Central America in its first year of creation, was a sovereign state in Central America, which consisted of the territories of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala of New Spain...
. From 1832 to 1833 he was the Deputy for Santa Cruz, Costa Rica
Santa Cruz de Guanacaste Canton
Santa Cruz is the name of the third canton in Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of , and has a population of 43,333. Its capital city is also called Santa Cruz....
in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Costa Rica. Peralta served as President of the Assembly from September 1832 to February 1833 and from July 1833 to September 1833.
In 1835, Peralta participated in the Costa Rican civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
, the Guerra de la Liga ("War of the League") against Head of State Braulio Carrillo Colina
Braulio Carrillo Colina
Braulio Evaristo Carrillo Colina was the Head of State of Costa Rica during two periods: the first between 1835 to 1837, and the de facto between 1838 and 1842.Before becoming head of state, Carrillo held a number of public positions, including Judge and Chairman of the...
. For this reason, his property was seized by the state and he had to flee in exile.
Peralta had been an enthusiastic admirer of General Francisco Morazán Quesada, who he honored during the general's stay in Cartago, Costa Rica
Cartago, Costa Rica
- See also :* Cartago Agrarian Union Party* Provincial Integration Party Three* Cartago in Spanish...
in 1834. Peralta was one of the most prominent supporters of the government of General Francisco Morazán, who rose to power on 12 April 1842. As a result, Peralta was elected Deputy for Cartago to the Constituent Assembly convened by Morazán, which began on 10 July 1842 in San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
. Peralta was named President of the Assembly. Among the legislative projects that he pushed were the creation of the college San Luis Gozaga in Cartago, which would not actually open until 1869.
Peralta died in Cartago on 16 September 1844, after an accident riding a horse. He left an important bequest
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
for the foundation of a school for the children of Cartago, an institution which retains his name today. In the city a bust in honor of Peralta was unveiled in 1917.