Pedro Gual Escandon
Encyclopedia
Pedro José Ramón Gual Escandón (Caracas, Venezuela, 17 January 1783 - Guayaquil, Ecuador, 6 May 1862), was a Venezuela
n lawyer, politician, journalist and diplomat. Creator of the foreign policy of Venezuela and the Greater Colombia, President of Venezuela in three opportunities and member of the Conservative Centralist party.
, son of José Ignacio Gual and Josefa Mónica Escandón, was nephew of Manuel Gual, who in 1797, along with José María España, organized a revolutionary movement against Spanish domination in Venezuela, known as the Conspiracy of Gual and España; As consequence of that, his family was subject of persecution by the authorities.
Gual Escandón, completed his studies at the Royal and Pontifical University of Caracas
, where obtained the degrees of Licentiate in 1806, Doctor of Theology in 1807 and lawyer in 1808. Having as teacher Juan Germán Roscio
, future Foreign Secretary of the Supreme Junta of Caracas. Began his career as a lawyer at the legal desk of Felipe Fermín Paúl, between 1809 and early 1810, strong rumors against the Spanish regime circulates in Caracas. Authorities suspect that Gual is one of those who illegally spread news favorable to the cause of the Independence of Latin America, that promotes Francisco de Miranda
from London.
In order to avoid being sent to Spain, Gual obtained from Governor and Captain-General of Venezuela Vicente Emparan
permission to exercise as lawyer in the island of Trinidad, then under British rule, but there remains little time because he returned to Caracas Following the events of 19 April 1810. When Miranda (who maintained revolutionary correspondence with Manuel and José Ignacio Gual years earlier) returns from Europe in December, Gual was appointed as his personal secretary. Is also affiliated to the Patriotic Society of Caracas, being its president in three opportunities, and collaborates with the daily “El Patriota de Venezuela”.
In 1811 was elected procurator of the Municipal Council of Caracas, being one of the signers of the manifesto that this council leads to citizenship, after being declared by Congress the Independence of Venezuela on 5 July 1811. In January, 1812, is chosen as representative for Caracas to the provincial legislature, starting on 24 February.
After the beginning of the crisis of the First Republic, as result of the earthquake of 26 March 1812 and the domination of royalist forces led by Domingo de Monteverde, Gual is next to Francisco de Miranda in the city of La Victoria
on 5 July 1812, when the news of the royalist uprising in Puerto Cabello
is received. For those days Miranda had decided to send Gual to the United States for the negotiation and recognition of Independent Venezuela by U.S. government and acquisition of weapons and ammunition. Gual was still in La Guaira
when Miranda is captured at dawn of 31 July 1812, event in which was not part.
Achieves refuge boarding a ship that goes to New York City. In late 1812, works with Manuel Palacio Fajardo on a mission of the Republican Government of Cartagena in Washington D.C, interviewing with U.S. President James Madison
, Secretary of State James Monroe
and other authorities, without favorable results.
In 1813, Gual travels to Cartagena
, publishing in August the daily “El Observador Colombiano”, which is campaign for unity of action between Venezuela and New Granada
. In December, was elected to the provincial legislature of Cartagena, being appointed as president of one of its sections. Was also signer of the decree that declares Simón Bolívar
worthy son of Cartagena and commissioned by the government to personally present the award to Bolívar in Caracas, and at the same time confer with him the creation of a Confederation between Venezuela and Cartagena in April, 1814. However, these plans fail due to the progress of the forces of José Tomás Boves
and the emergencies of war. In June, 1814, when the Second Republic is about to end, Bolívar entrusts to Gual a mission with the English admiral of Barbados
, being not successful. Nevertheless Gual arrives to the island of Saint Thomas
, returning to Cartagena in September, 1814, participating in the organization of the patriot army, and from January, 1815, as governor of the state.
When Simón Bolívar arrives from Bogotá
along with his army, confronts the Military Chief of Cartagena, Manuel del Castillo, Gual tries to mediate in the situation, having no success. Shortly after that, was designated on 22 May 1815 as diplomatic agent in the United States, staying in this country between 1815 until 1820, working towards the independentist cause. During this time helps Bolívar in the preparation of Los Cayos Expedition (March-May, 1816), participates with Lino de Clemente and Juan Germán Roscio, preparing the failed invasion of Amelia Island
(June-December, 1817) and travelling between 1818 till 1819, to Haiti
, Jamaica
and Buenos Aires
. Returning to Cartagena in 1820.
By then, the Congress of Angostura from February, 1819, decreed the creation of the Greater Colombia. After this, Gual was named as civil governor of the province of Cartagena (June, 1820 - February, 1821), being in charge of the political and financial reorganization of the region, but working outside its capital city, which remained in power of royalists through October, 1820. On 8 March 1821, was appointed as Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs of the Greater Colombia, participated in the Congress of Cúcuta
(May - October, 1821). As finance minister, was the main author of the financial legislation approved in Cúcuta. When Simón Bolívar was elected President of Colombia on 7 October 1821, during thi period Bolívar and Gual, sent diplomatic missions to the south (Joaquín Mosquera to Peru
, Chile
and Argentina
) and north of America (Miguel Santamaria to Mexico), to conclude treaties of alliance and union and the preparation of a Congress of new Latin American nations in Panama
. Gual deployed all his efforts for the international recognition of the new Republic, especially with the United States and England, negotiations which ended successfully in 1822 and 1825, respectively.
As Minister of Outer Relations, negotiated the sign of treaties of Friendship, Navigation and Commerce with the United States in 1824 and England in 1825. Was also one of the main organizers of the Congress of Panama
in 1826, attending as representative of Greater Colombia. After this, resigns as minister in August, 1825, moving to Mexico, where he remained until 1829, determined to achieve the ratification by the Mexican government of the agreements of the Congress of Panama. In view that the mission was not accomplished, moves to Guayaquil
in March, 1829, working as member of the State Council, being one of the negotiators and signatories of the Peace Treaty after the Greater Colombia–Peru War, which ended on 28 February 1829. Subsequently the dissolution of the Greater Colombia in 1830, Gual decided to stay in Bogotá
(where he married on 9 December 1822 with Rosa Maria Domínguez), retired from public life and devoted to the exercise of his profession. During this period, helped his friend, General Daniel Florencio O'Leary
in the collection of documents contained in his memoirs.
on 15 March 1858, was appointed by the Congress as provisional president. After that, was member of the State Council proposed by President Julián Castro
, and deputy for the province of Caracas in the Convention of Valencia (July-December, 1858), playing a major role in the elaboration of the 1858 Constitution. Followed by the overthrown of Julián Castro, was designated again as provisional president in December, 1858. At the general elections of 1860, during Federal War
, was elected as Vice President. Being in charge of the presidency for a third time, on 20 May 1861, after the resignation of Manuel Felipe de Tovar. Facing the forces of federalists and centralists, was overthrown on 29 August 1861 by José Antonio Páez
. Being arrested at his home, on 16 September 1861, the military custody retires from his house, but despite the relative freedom that have, don't separated from his home until his definitive exile, going to the islands of Saint Thomas
and Charlotte Amalie
in the West Indies, receiving a message from General Juan José Flores
to travel to Ecuador
, accepting the invitation, goes along with his son. During his stay in Guayaquil
, sick on 5 May 1862, as cause of pneumonic complications, dying the next day at the age of 79. His funeral was presided by the Bishop of Guayas at the Cathedral of Guayaquil. His remains rest at the Primary Cathedral of Bogotá
.
Pedro Gual was mason in 33rd degree, worked in the lodges of Caracas
, New York City and Bogotá
.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n lawyer, politician, journalist and diplomat. Creator of the foreign policy of Venezuela and the Greater Colombia, President of Venezuela in three opportunities and member of the Conservative Centralist party.
Early life and career
Being born in CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, son of José Ignacio Gual and Josefa Mónica Escandón, was nephew of Manuel Gual, who in 1797, along with José María España, organized a revolutionary movement against Spanish domination in Venezuela, known as the Conspiracy of Gual and España; As consequence of that, his family was subject of persecution by the authorities.
Gual Escandón, completed his studies at the Royal and Pontifical University of Caracas
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
, where obtained the degrees of Licentiate in 1806, Doctor of Theology in 1807 and lawyer in 1808. Having as teacher Juan Germán Roscio
Juan Germán Roscio
Juan Germán Roscio , was a Venezuelan lawyer and politician of Italian background, served as the secretary of foreign affairs for the Junta of Caracas, and the main editor of the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence,. Roscio was also the chief architect of the Venezuelan Constitution of 1811.-...
, future Foreign Secretary of the Supreme Junta of Caracas. Began his career as a lawyer at the legal desk of Felipe Fermín Paúl, between 1809 and early 1810, strong rumors against the Spanish regime circulates in Caracas. Authorities suspect that Gual is one of those who illegally spread news favorable to the cause of the Independence of Latin America, that promotes Francisco de Miranda
Francisco de Miranda
Sebastián Francisco de Miranda Ravelo y Rodríguez de Espinoza , commonly known as Francisco de Miranda , was a Venezuelan revolutionary...
from London.
In order to avoid being sent to Spain, Gual obtained from Governor and Captain-General of Venezuela Vicente Emparan
Vicente Emparán
Vicente Emparán was a Spanish Basque Captain General.Emparán was born in Azpeitia, Guipúzcoa, Basque Country, in 1747. He was governor of Cumaná Province in the Captaincy General of Venezuela between 1792 and 1804, where he had gained a favorable reputation among Venezuelans.By 1808, Emparán had...
permission to exercise as lawyer in the island of Trinidad, then under British rule, but there remains little time because he returned to Caracas Following the events of 19 April 1810. When Miranda (who maintained revolutionary correspondence with Manuel and José Ignacio Gual years earlier) returns from Europe in December, Gual was appointed as his personal secretary. Is also affiliated to the Patriotic Society of Caracas, being its president in three opportunities, and collaborates with the daily “El Patriota de Venezuela”.
In 1811 was elected procurator of the Municipal Council of Caracas, being one of the signers of the manifesto that this council leads to citizenship, after being declared by Congress the Independence of Venezuela on 5 July 1811. In January, 1812, is chosen as representative for Caracas to the provincial legislature, starting on 24 February.
After the beginning of the crisis of the First Republic, as result of the earthquake of 26 March 1812 and the domination of royalist forces led by Domingo de Monteverde, Gual is next to Francisco de Miranda in the city of La Victoria
La Victoria, Aragua
La Victoria is a city in the state of Aragua in Venezuela.It is famous for the independence battle of 12 February 1814, where José Félix Ribas led a young and inexperienced army that succeeded in halting the royalist troops of José Tomás Boves at La Victoria...
on 5 July 1812, when the news of the royalist uprising in Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello is a city on the north coast of Venezuela. It is located in Carabobo State about 75 km west of Caracas. As of 2001, the city has a population of around 154,000 people. The city is the home to the largest port in the country and is thus a vital cog in the country's vast oil...
is received. For those days Miranda had decided to send Gual to the United States for the negotiation and recognition of Independent Venezuela by U.S. government and acquisition of weapons and ammunition. Gual was still in La Guaira
La Guaira
La Guaira is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Vargas and the country's chief port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, to the southeast. The town and the port were badly damaged during the December 1999 floods and mudslides that affected much of the region...
when Miranda is captured at dawn of 31 July 1812, event in which was not part.
Achieves refuge boarding a ship that goes to New York City. In late 1812, works with Manuel Palacio Fajardo on a mission of the Republican Government of Cartagena in Washington D.C, interviewing with U.S. President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
, Secretary of State James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
and other authorities, without favorable results.
In 1813, Gual travels to Cartagena
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
, publishing in August the daily “El Observador Colombiano”, which is campaign for unity of action between Venezuela and New Granada
New Granada
New Granada may refer to various former national denominations for the present-day country of Colombia.*New Kingdom of Granada, from 1538 to 1717*Viceroyalty of New Granada, from 1717 to 1810, re-established from 1816 to 1819...
. In December, was elected to the provincial legislature of Cartagena, being appointed as president of one of its sections. Was also signer of the decree that declares Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
worthy son of Cartagena and commissioned by the government to personally present the award to Bolívar in Caracas, and at the same time confer with him the creation of a Confederation between Venezuela and Cartagena in April, 1814. However, these plans fail due to the progress of the forces of José Tomás Boves
José Tomás Boves
José Tomás Boves , royalist caudillo of the llanos during the Venezuelan War of Independence, particularly remembered for his use of brutality and atrocities against those who supported Venezuelan independence...
and the emergencies of war. In June, 1814, when the Second Republic is about to end, Bolívar entrusts to Gual a mission with the English admiral of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, being not successful. Nevertheless Gual arrives to the island of Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
, returning to Cartagena in September, 1814, participating in the organization of the patriot army, and from January, 1815, as governor of the state.
When Simón Bolívar arrives from Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
along with his army, confronts the Military Chief of Cartagena, Manuel del Castillo, Gual tries to mediate in the situation, having no success. Shortly after that, was designated on 22 May 1815 as diplomatic agent in the United States, staying in this country between 1815 until 1820, working towards the independentist cause. During this time helps Bolívar in the preparation of Los Cayos Expedition (March-May, 1816), participates with Lino de Clemente and Juan Germán Roscio, preparing the failed invasion of Amelia Island
Amelia Island
Amelia Island is one of the southernmost of the Sea Islands, a chain of barrier islands that stretches along the east coast of the United States from South Carolina to Florida. It is long and approximately 4 miles wide at its widest point. Amelia Island is situated off the coast in Nassau County,...
(June-December, 1817) and travelling between 1818 till 1819, to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. Returning to Cartagena in 1820.
Participation in the Greater Colombia
Congress of Cúcuta
The Congress of Cúcuta was a constituent assembly where Gran Colombia was created. The Congress elected Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Paula Santander president and vice-president, respectively....
(May - October, 1821). As finance minister, was the main author of the financial legislation approved in Cúcuta. When Simón Bolívar was elected President of Colombia on 7 October 1821, during thi period Bolívar and Gual, sent diplomatic missions to the south (Joaquín Mosquera to Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, 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...
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
) and north of America (Miguel Santamaria to Mexico), to conclude treaties of alliance and union and the preparation of a Congress of new Latin American nations in 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...
. Gual deployed all his efforts for the international recognition of the new Republic, especially with the United States and England, negotiations which ended successfully in 1822 and 1825, respectively.
As Minister of Outer Relations, negotiated the sign of treaties of Friendship, Navigation and Commerce with the United States in 1824 and England in 1825. Was also one of the main organizers of the Congress of Panama
Congress of Panama
The Congress of Panama was a congress organized by Simón Bolívar in 1826 with the goal of bringing together the new republics of Latin America to develop a unified policy towards Spain...
in 1826, attending as representative of Greater Colombia. After this, resigns as minister in August, 1825, moving to Mexico, where he remained until 1829, determined to achieve the ratification by the Mexican government of the agreements of the Congress of Panama. In view that the mission was not accomplished, moves to Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
in March, 1829, working as member of the State Council, being one of the negotiators and signatories of the Peace Treaty after the Greater Colombia–Peru War, which ended on 28 February 1829. Subsequently the dissolution of the Greater Colombia in 1830, Gual decided to stay in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
(where he married on 9 December 1822 with Rosa Maria Domínguez), retired from public life and devoted to the exercise of his profession. During this period, helped his friend, General Daniel Florencio O'Leary
Daniel Florencio O'Leary
Daniel Florence O'Leary was a military general and aide-de-camp under Simón Bolívar. He was born in Cork, Ireland; his father was Jeremiah O'Leary, a butter merchant...
in the collection of documents contained in his memoirs.
Return to Venezuela and death
In 1847 returns to Venezuela, being out of the political activity. But following the overthrow of José Tadeo MonagasJosé Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas Burgos was President of Venezuela 1847-1851 and 1855–1858, and a hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence...
on 15 March 1858, was appointed by the Congress as provisional president. After that, was member of the State Council proposed by President Julián Castro
Julián Castro
- See also :*Venezuela*Presidents of Venezuela...
, and deputy for the province of Caracas in the Convention of Valencia (July-December, 1858), playing a major role in the elaboration of the 1858 Constitution. Followed by the overthrown of Julián Castro, was designated again as provisional president in December, 1858. At the general elections of 1860, during Federal War
Federal War
The Federal War - also known as the Great War or the Five Year War - was a civil war in Venezuela between the conservative party and the liberal party about the monopoly of the conservatives of the land and the government positions, and their reluctance to grant any reforms. This drove the...
, was elected as Vice President. Being in charge of the presidency for a third time, on 20 May 1861, after the resignation of Manuel Felipe de Tovar. Facing the forces of federalists and centralists, was overthrown on 29 August 1861 by José Antonio Páez
José Antonio Páez
José Antonio Páez Herrera was General in Chief of the army fighting Spain during the Venezuelan Wars of Independence, in addition to becoming the President of Venezuela once it was independent of the Gran Colombia...
. Being arrested at his home, on 16 September 1861, the military custody retires from his house, but despite the relative freedom that have, don't separated from his home until his definitive exile, going to the islands of Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
and Charlotte Amalie
Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands
-Education:St. Thomas-St. John School District serves the community. and Charlotte Amalie High School serve the area.-Gallery:-See also:* Anna's Retreat* Cruz Bay* Saint Thomas* Water Island-External links:* *...
in the West Indies, receiving a message from General Juan José Flores
Juan José Flores
Juan José Flores y Aramburu was a Venezuelan military general who became Supreme Chief, and later the first President of the new Republic of Ecuador. He later served two more terms from 1839 to 1843 and from 1843 to 1845, and is often referred to as "The founder of the Republic".-Biography:Flores...
to travel to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, accepting the invitation, goes along with his son. During his stay in Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
, sick on 5 May 1862, as cause of pneumonic complications, dying the next day at the age of 79. His funeral was presided by the Bishop of Guayas at the Cathedral of Guayaquil. His remains rest at the Primary Cathedral of Bogotá
Primary Cathedral of Bogotá
The Archbishopric Cathedral of Bogotá is a Roman Catholic cathedral located at the eastern side of Bolívar Square in Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. It is seat of the Archbishop of Bogotá, Cardinal Mon. Pedro Rubiano Saenz....
.
Pedro Gual was mason in 33rd degree, worked in the lodges of Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, New York City and Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
.
See also
- VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
- Federal WarFederal WarThe Federal War - also known as the Great War or the Five Year War - was a civil war in Venezuela between the conservative party and the liberal party about the monopoly of the conservatives of the land and the government positions, and their reluctance to grant any reforms. This drove the...
- Presidents of Venezuela