José María Silva
Encyclopedia
Licenciado José María Silva (ca. 1804, San Miguel, El Salvador
—October 16, 1876, San Miguel) was a Liberal Salvadoran politician. He was twice briefly chief of state of the State of El Salvador, within the Federal Republic of Central America
(1834-35 and 1840).
Silva was born into a well-to-do family about 1804. In 1827 he received a doctorate in law. He was a deputy to the state legislature in 1828, and its secretary in 1829.
In May 1829 he asked for a military judgment of the prisoners taken at the capitulation of Mejicanos
, in the first phase of the Central American Civil War. In June 1829 he moved to Guatemala
, as a commissioner of the legislature, charged along with P. Colom with personally delivering to General Francisco Morazán
, commander of the victorious revolutionary armies, the decree by which Morazán was to remain in power until the establishment of new federal authorities.
Silva was again a deputy to the Salvadoran Legislature in 1834, and became president of the Legislature in October. From October 14, 1834 to April 10, 1835 he governed El Salvador, as vice-head of state, after the Honduran Joaquín Escolán y Balibrera
declined the appointment as head of state. He governed again in the same capacity from February 16, 1840 to April 5, 1840. In his second term he received his authority from General Morazán, when the latter left to invade Guatemala. However, on April 5, 1840 he gave up his office to follow General Morazán into exile, embarking on the brigantine Izalco from the port of La Libertad
along with many other followers of Morazán. The Municipal Council of San Salvador took over the executive authority of the state. The Federal Republic of Central America was formally dissolved in 1840.
Licenciado Silva governed with honesty, and ended the seizure of property of opponents of the Liberals. He performed judicial functions and was president of the constituent congress of 1839.
Silva remained in exile in Costa Rica and Panama
for two years, returning to El Salvador in 1842. He returned as a private citizen, and lived many years dedicated to his profession as a lawyer. On January 9, 1850 he was named a Salvadoran delegate to the National Convention that was called to reorganize the Central American Union, be he declined the appointment (several times). He was also named a delegate by Honduras. In spite of his refusals, he attended the assembly in León, Nicaragua
. On January 9, 1851 he attended another session at Chinandega
, where he was named secretary of the assembly.
In 1853 he was elected a senator. By now he was recognized as one of the most outstanding jurists of the country. On June 22, 1854 he was named a member of the commission charged with editing the mercantile code. He was reelected senator from San Miguel, and elected president of the Senate from 1857 to 1858.
On February 4, 1858 the executive authority designated Silva and Dr. Justo Abaunza
as a commission charged with editing the civil code and making penal reforms.
In 1862 Silva returned to the Senate and was again elected its president. At the end of this term he retired to private life because of illness.
In 1872 he published the work Recuerdos al 15 de Septiembre (Memories of September 15), considered as his political testament.
San Miguel, El Salvador
San Miguel is the fourth most populous city in El Salvador after Santa Ana and Soyapango and the second most important after San Salvador. It is located 138 km east of the capital, San Salvador. It is also the capital of the department of San Miguel and a municipality...
—October 16, 1876, San Miguel) was a Liberal Salvadoran politician. He was twice briefly chief of state of the State of El Salvador, within 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...
(1834-35 and 1840).
Silva was born into a well-to-do family about 1804. In 1827 he received a doctorate in law. He was a deputy to the state legislature in 1828, and its secretary in 1829.
In May 1829 he asked for a military judgment of the prisoners taken at the capitulation of Mejicanos
Mejicanos
Mejicanos is a town in the San Salvador department of El Salvador.Mejicanos is a city located in San Salvador, El Salvador. At the 2009 estimate it had 160,751 inhabitants. It has been characterized by its typical food "Yuca Frita con Merienda"....
, in the first phase of the Central American Civil War. In June 1829 he moved to Guatemala
Guatemala
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...
, as a commissioner of the legislature, charged along with P. Colom with personally delivering to General Francisco Morazán
Francisco Morazán
General Francisco Morazán was a Honduran general and a politician who ruled several Central American states at different times during the turbulent period from 1827 to 1842. He rose to prominence at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on November 11, 1827...
, commander of the victorious revolutionary armies, the decree by which Morazán was to remain in power until the establishment of new federal authorities.
Silva was again a deputy to the Salvadoran Legislature in 1834, and became president of the Legislature in October. From October 14, 1834 to April 10, 1835 he governed El Salvador, as vice-head of state, after the Honduran Joaquín Escolán y Balibrera
Joaquín Escolán y Balibrera
Joaquín Escolán y Balibrera was a nineteenth-century Salvadoran politician. Briefly in 1834 he was chief of state of the State of El Salvador, within the Federal Republic of Central America....
declined the appointment as head of state. He governed again in the same capacity from February 16, 1840 to April 5, 1840. In his second term he received his authority from General Morazán, when the latter left to invade Guatemala. However, on April 5, 1840 he gave up his office to follow General Morazán into exile, embarking on the brigantine Izalco from the port of La Libertad
La Libertad
La Libertad can refer to:;Ecuador*La Libertad, Guayas*La Libertad Canton;El Salvador*La Libertad, La Libertad*La Libertad Department;Honduras*La Libertad, Comayagua*La Libertad, Francisco Morazán;Guatemala*La Libertad, El Petén...
along with many other followers of Morazán. The Municipal Council of San Salvador took over the executive authority of the state. The Federal Republic of Central America was formally dissolved in 1840.
Licenciado Silva governed with honesty, and ended the seizure of property of opponents of the Liberals. He performed judicial functions and was president of the constituent congress of 1839.
Silva remained in exile in Costa Rica and 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...
for two years, returning to El Salvador in 1842. He returned as a private citizen, and lived many years dedicated to his profession as a lawyer. On January 9, 1850 he was named a Salvadoran delegate to the National Convention that was called to reorganize the Central American Union, be he declined the appointment (several times). He was also named a delegate by Honduras. In spite of his refusals, he attended the assembly 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...
. On January 9, 1851 he attended another session at Chinandega
Chinandega
Chinandega is a town and the departmental seat of Chinandega department in Nicaragua. It is also the administrative centre of the surrounding municipality of the same name. The city has a population of 121,793 inhabitants with 151,000 in the municipality...
, where he was named secretary of the assembly.
In 1853 he was elected a senator. By now he was recognized as one of the most outstanding jurists of the country. On June 22, 1854 he was named a member of the commission charged with editing the mercantile code. He was reelected senator from San Miguel, and elected president of the Senate from 1857 to 1858.
On February 4, 1858 the executive authority designated Silva and Dr. Justo Abaunza
Justo Abaunza
Justo Abaunza y Muñoz de Avilés was a Nicaraguan politician, and was twice temporary and acting 25th and 27th President of Nicaragua from 1 April to 5 May 1851 and again from 4 August to 11 November 1851....
as a commission charged with editing the civil code and making penal reforms.
In 1862 Silva returned to the Senate and was again elected its president. At the end of this term he retired to private life because of illness.
In 1872 he published the work Recuerdos al 15 de Septiembre (Memories of September 15), considered as his political testament.