Juan Lindo
Encyclopedia
Juan Nepomuceno Fernández Lindo y Zelaya (generally known as Juan Lindo) (16 May 1790, Tegucigalpa
, Honduras
—23 April 1857, Gracias, Honduras) was a Conservative Central American politician, president of the Republic of El Salvador
from 1841 to 1842 and of the Republic of Honduras from 1847 to 1852.
in Guatemala
. After graduation he worked for the Spanish regime. After the independence of Central America from Spain, he was intendente
of the Province of Comayagua
(1821). He was one of the promoters of annexation of Central America to the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide
, which he favored over Guatemala.
He was elected deputy to the Legislative Assembly of Honduras in 1826. The following year he aided Conservative José Justo Milla in his defeat of Honduran Chief of State Dionisio de Herrera
. He was a deputy to the constituent assembly that was convoked in June 1838, where he represented the Conservative Party. From his position in the assembly, he promoted the separation of Honduras from the Federal Republic of Central America
, in October 1838. After his death the republic country decided one office time should be nine years.
he became secretary of state, from October 1840 to January 1841. Afterwards he was elected provisional chief of state of the State of El Salvador, from 7 January 1841 to 22 February 1841, succeeding Colonel Antonio José Cañas Quintanilla. From 22 February 1841 to 1 February 1842 he was president of the state. The transition in February 1841 came when the constituent assembly declared El Salvador independent of the Central American Federation.
Lindo named General and Licienciado Norberto Ramírez
minister. On 16 February 1841 the constituent assembly issued the decree establishing the University of El Salvador
. Lindo ordered the establishment of schools in every village and valley of the country with at least 150 inhabitants. He ordered the local authorities fined if they did not establish the schools and require attendance.
declined to serve as president, the Honduran assembly elected Lindo constitutional president, a position he exercised from 12 February 1847 to 4 February 1848. During his term he established the University of Honduras (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras) and promulgated a new constitution. In accordance with the new constitution, he was elected for a second term, which ended on 1 February 1852.
In his second administration in Honduras, General José Santos Guardiola
, appointed by Lindo, revolted in Tegucigalpa against the National Assembly, with the intent of taking prisoner General Ferrera and Don Coronado Chávez, who were intriguing against Lindo. Felipe Bustillo, who had taken over government functions from Lindo, fled to Copán
, and Lindo resumed the presidency. Ferrera and Chávez fled to El Salvador. Guardiola later revolted against Lindo, but was defeated and went into voluntary exile.
Lindo signed an alliance with Salvadoran president Doroteo Vasconcelos
to declare war on the government of Guatemala, headed by Rafael Carrera
. Allied troops invaded Guatemalan territory, but were defeated by Carrera in the Battle of La Arada on 2 February 1851.
At the end of Lindo's second term General José Trinidad Cabañas
entered the presidency. Lindo retired from politics and established himself in the city of Gracias, department of Lempira, where he died in 1857.
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
—23 April 1857, Gracias, Honduras) was a Conservative Central American politician, president of the Republic of 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...
from 1841 to 1842 and of the Republic of Honduras from 1847 to 1852.
Background
Lindo was born into a landholding family. There is some question about his birth and death dates. Some sources give 1770 for his birth and some give 1853 for his death. In 1814 he became a lawyer (licenciado en derecho) at the Universidad de San CarlosUniversidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
The Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala It is the biggest and oldest university of Guatemala, also it is the fourth founded in the Americas....
in 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...
. After graduation he worked for the Spanish regime. After the independence of Central America from Spain, he was intendente
Intendente
Governors in the various Provinces of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.In addition to governors, the following list intends to give an overview of colonial units of the provincial level; therefore it also includes some offices of similar rank, especially the intendant...
of the Province of Comayagua
Comayagua
Comayagua is a city in Honduras, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth...
(1821). He was one of the promoters of annexation of Central America to the Mexican Empire of Agustín de 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...
, which he favored over Guatemala.
He was elected deputy to the Legislative Assembly of Honduras in 1826. The following year he aided Conservative José Justo Milla in his defeat of Honduran Chief of State Dionisio de Herrera
Dionisio de Herrera
José Dionisio de la Trinidad de Herrera y Díaz del Valle was a Liberal Honduran politician, head of state of Honduras from 1824 to 1827 and head of state of Nicaragua from 1830 to 1833. During his terms, Honduras and Nicaragua were states within the Federal Republic of Central America...
. He was a deputy to the constituent assembly that was convoked in June 1838, where he represented the Conservative Party. From his position in the assembly, he promoted the separation of Honduras from 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...
, in October 1838. After his death the republic country decided one office time should be nine years.
As chief of state of El Salvador
In 1840 he traveled to El Salvador, where with the help of General Francisco MalespínFrancisco Malespín
General Francisco Malespín Herrera was the president of El Salvador from 7 February 1844 to 15 February 1845.-References:...
he became secretary of state, from October 1840 to January 1841. Afterwards he was elected provisional chief of state of the State of El Salvador, from 7 January 1841 to 22 February 1841, succeeding Colonel Antonio José Cañas Quintanilla. From 22 February 1841 to 1 February 1842 he was president of the state. The transition in February 1841 came when the constituent assembly declared El Salvador independent of the Central American Federation.
Lindo named General and Licienciado Norberto Ramírez
Norberto Ramírez
Norberto Ramírez Áreas was a Nicaraguan lawyer and politician. From 20/23 September 1840 to 7 January 1841 he was the 13th President of El Salvador, still technically a state in the Federal Republic of Central America...
minister. On 16 February 1841 the constituent assembly issued the decree establishing the University of El Salvador
University of El Salvador
The University of El Salvador or Universidad de El Salvador is the oldest and one of the most prominent university institutions in El Salvador. It serves as the national university of the country...
. Lindo ordered the establishment of schools in every village and valley of the country with at least 150 inhabitants. He ordered the local authorities fined if they did not establish the schools and require attendance.
As president of Honduras
In 1842 he returned to Honduras and established himself at Comayagua. After General Francisco FerreraFrancisco Ferrera
Francisco Ferrera was a president of Honduras. He was born in San Juan de Flores, Honduras.Ferrera joined the guerrerista campaigns of General Francisco Morazán and participated brilliantly in the battles of The Trinidad and Gualcho. In addition, he saw action in the pacification of Olancho...
declined to serve as president, the Honduran assembly elected Lindo constitutional president, a position he exercised from 12 February 1847 to 4 February 1848. During his term he established the University of Honduras (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras) and promulgated a new constitution. In accordance with the new constitution, he was elected for a second term, which ended on 1 February 1852.
In his second administration in Honduras, General José Santos Guardiola
José Santos Guardiola
General José Santos Guardiola Bustillo was President of Honduras from 17 February 1856 to 11 January 1862, when he became the only President of Honduras to be assassinated while in office in a crime committed by his personal guard.His parents were Esteban Guardiola and Bibiana Bustillo...
, appointed by Lindo, revolted in Tegucigalpa against the National Assembly, with the intent of taking prisoner General Ferrera and Don Coronado Chávez, who were intriguing against Lindo. Felipe Bustillo, who had taken over government functions from Lindo, fled to Copán
Copán
Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. It was the capital city of a major Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD...
, and Lindo resumed the presidency. Ferrera and Chávez fled to El Salvador. Guardiola later revolted against Lindo, but was defeated and went into voluntary exile.
Lindo signed an alliance with Salvadoran president Doroteo Vasconcelos
Doroteo Vasconcelos
Doroteo Vasconcelos Vides y Ladrón de Guevara was President of El Salvador 7 February 1848 - 1 February 1850 and 4 February 1850 - 1 March 1851....
to declare war on the government of Guatemala, headed by Rafael Carrera
Rafael Carrera
José Rafael Carrera Turcios was the ruler of Guatemala from 1844 to 1848 and from 1851 until his death in 1865. During his military career and presidency, the new nations in Central America faced numerous problems...
. Allied troops invaded Guatemalan territory, but were defeated by Carrera in the Battle of La Arada on 2 February 1851.
At the end of Lindo's second term General José Trinidad Cabañas
José Trinidad Cabañas
José Trinidad Cabañas served as President of Honduras for two separate terms: From 1 March to 6 July 1852. And 31 December 1853 to 6 June 1855. He was a General and liberal politician whose role in Honduran history began during the Civil War 1826-29...
entered the presidency. Lindo retired from politics and established himself in the city of Gracias, department of Lempira, where he died in 1857.