Mariano Ignacio Prado
Encyclopedia
Mariano Ignacio Prado Ochoa (December 18, 1826 – May 5, 1901) was twice the President of Peru, from 1865 to 1868 and 1876 to 1879).
in 1826, he entered the army at an early age and served in the provinces of Southern Peru.
After a coup which overthrew Juan Antonio Pezet
's government, Prado assumed the dictatorship of the country in 1865. He only served in that position for two months, leaving Pedro Diez Canseco
as a provisional president for less than a month. Prado's intentions were to participate in that year's elections which, surprisingly, he won. He defended Peru against Spanish aggression at the Battle of Callao
on May 2, 1866. His first presidency lasted until 1868 when he had to resign under pressure from the Peruvian Congress.
After Manuel Pardo
's presidential term ended in 1876, Prado was elected president again on August 2 of that year. His second term was marked with the War of the Pacific
(1879–1884) which broke out with Chile
. Prado took active measures to prepare for defence by leaving for Tacna
and later Tarapacá
(where he met Bolivian president Hilarión Daza
), with the intention of taking command of the armies assembling there. He assessed Peru was not ready for the war and decided to go back to Lima
to prepare and send back new reinforcements.
In the course of these deliberations, Prado left his vice-president La Puerta
in charge and decided to leave for Europe to buy more armament and obtain more money for the war. Prado wrote a manifesto to the nation explaining the difficulties of the war and that those "circumstances forced him to leave the country to acquire armament to defend the honor of the Homeland". Many Peruvians took this as a coward act and excuse for his inability to govern in the middle of the war, which led Nicolás de Piérola
to stage a successful coup d'état
and later declared himself commander-in-chief on December 23, 1879. Prado did not return to Peru until the end of the war.
He later moved back to Europe and died in Paris, France in 1901. His son Leoncio Prado, killed during the War of the Pacific
, is one of the traditional heroes of Peru, while the other son Manuel Prado Ugarteche
was two times President of Peru.
Biography
Born in HuánucoHuánuco
-Famous Natives:* Daniel Alomía Robles - Musical composer and ethnologist born in 1871, famous for El Cóndor Pasa* Johan Fano- Professional football player-External links:*** - Catholic Encyclopedia article...
in 1826, he entered the army at an early age and served in the provinces of Southern Peru.
After a coup which overthrew Juan Antonio Pezet
Juan Antonio Pezet
Juan Antonio Pezet was a Peruvian military officer and politician who served in the positions of Secretary of War, Vice President and President of Peru during his life...
's government, Prado assumed the dictatorship of the country in 1865. He only served in that position for two months, leaving Pedro Diez Canseco
Pedro Diez Canseco
Pedro Diez Canseco Corbacho was a Peruvian soldier and politician who became interim President of Peru on three occasions: 1863, 1865 and 1868.-See also:* List of Presidents of Peru...
as a provisional president for less than a month. Prado's intentions were to participate in that year's elections which, surprisingly, he won. He defended Peru against Spanish aggression at the Battle of Callao
Battle of Callao
The Battle of Callao occurred on May 2, 1866 between a Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez and the fortified battery emplacements of the Peruvian port city of Callao during the Chincha Islands War...
on May 2, 1866. His first presidency lasted until 1868 when he had to resign under pressure from the Peruvian Congress.
After Manuel Pardo
Manuel Pardo
Manuel Pardo y Lavalle was a Peruvian politician and the first civilian President of Peru.Born in Lima, Peru, he was the founder of the most important political party of the era...
's presidential term ended in 1876, Prado was elected president again on August 2 of that year. His second term was marked with 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...
(1879–1884) which broke out with Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. Prado took active measures to prepare for defence by leaving for Tacna
Tacna
- Rail :Tacna is served by a cross-border standard gauge railway to Arica, Chile.It is also the location of the National Railway Museum of Peru.-Air:Tacna is served by the Crnl. FAP...
and later Tarapacá
Tarapacá Province (Peru)
The Province of Tarapacá was an old territorial division of Peru, which existed from 1837 until 1883.* It was created in 1837, in Litoral Department....
(where he met Bolivian president Hilarión Daza
Hilarión Daza
Hilarión Daza Groselle was President of Bolivia from 1876 to 1879.A career military officer and native of Sucre, Daza came to power on May 4, 1876 in a coup against the constitutional president Tomás Frías. He was supported by much of the country's financial elite because of his avowal to maintain...
), with the intention of taking command of the armies assembling there. He assessed Peru was not ready for the war and decided to go back to Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
to prepare and send back new reinforcements.
In the course of these deliberations, Prado left his vice-president La Puerta
La Puerta
La Puerta is a village in Catamarca Province, Argentina. It is the head of the Ambato Department.-Attractions:* Iglesia de Nuestra Sra. del Rosario * La Rinconada archaeological site* Cubas cave* Cruce La Puerta...
in charge and decided to leave for Europe to buy more armament and obtain more money for the war. Prado wrote a manifesto to the nation explaining the difficulties of the war and that those "circumstances forced him to leave the country to acquire armament to defend the honor of the Homeland". Many Peruvians took this as a coward act and excuse for his inability to govern in the middle of the war, which led Nicolás de Piérola
Nicolás de Piérola
H.E. Don Jose Nicolás Baltasar Fernández de Piérola y Villena was a prominent Peruvian politician, the Finance Minister and twice President of the Republic of Peru .-Early years:Nicolás de Piérola was born and educated in the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa...
to stage a successful coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
and later declared himself commander-in-chief on December 23, 1879. Prado did not return to Peru until the end of the war.
He later moved back to Europe and died in Paris, France in 1901. His son Leoncio Prado, killed during 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...
, is one of the traditional heroes of Peru, while the other son Manuel Prado Ugarteche
Manuel Prado Ugarteche
Manuel Prado y Ugarteche was a Peruvian banker and political figure. Son of former president, Mariano Ignacio Prado, he was born in Lima and served as the President of Peru twice, from 1939 until 1945 and again between 1956 and 1962...
was two times President of Peru.