Pedro Barriere
Encyclopedia
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...
. After independence from Spain he became the first head of state of El Salvador.
Dr. Barriere entered the service of the colonial government at the end of the eighteenth century, ascending to the rank of lieutenant. His service was distinguished by his loyalty to the royalist cause.
On September 15, 1821, the Act of Independence of Central America was signed in Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
. Barriere replaced General and Doctor José María Peinado as Spanish intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
of El Salvador on the latter's death. Barriere took over the government on September 21, 1821. He was the last colonial intendant of the province and the first governor after independence. He occupied the position until November 28, 1821.
When Manuel José Arce
Manuel José Arce
General Manuel José Arce y Fagoaga was a decorated General and president of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1825 to 1829.- Background :...
, together with a small group of Salvadoran supporters, asked Intendant Barriere for the election of an economic consultative junta on September 30, 1821, Barriere ordered the arrest of the patriot leaders — Arce, Domingo Antonio Lara, Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Manuel Castillo, Mariano Fagoaga and others. Because he feared popular reaction in El Salvador, they were sent as prisoners to Guatemala, with a strong escort.
The governing junta in Guatemala had received the report of the incident from Barriere, and was ready to punish the prisoners. However, the priest Dr. José Matías Delgado
José Matías Delgado
José Matías Delgado y León was a Salvadoran priest and doctor known as El Padre de la Patria Salvadoreña...
, who had been named the new civil political chief of El Salvador by the Provisional Consultative Junta of Guatemala, secured their release in Santa Ana, El Salvador
Santa Ana, El Salvador
Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador, located 64 kilometers west of San Salvador, the capital city. Santa Ana has approximately 274,830 inhabitants and serves both as the capital of the department of Santa Ana and...
, before they reached Guatemala.
Dr. Barriere, who scoffed at the protests of the people and depended on the army for his authority, could hardly believe he had been replaced by Padre Delgado. Delgado was received by the people of El Salvador as a liberator from the tyranny of Barriere. Barriere moved to Guatemala, where he was promoted to colonel. He died in the service of the first president 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...
, General Manuel José Arce, his former enemy, in the Battle of Milingo.