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Rafael Núñez (politician)
Encyclopedia
Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo was a Colombia
n author
, lawyer, journalist and politician
, who was elected President of Colombia
in 1880 and in 1884. Rafael Núñez was born in Cartagena de Indias, on September 28, 1825. He died in Cartagena on September 18, 1894.
, Panama
in 1848.
Rafael Núñez married Soledad Román, the love of his life, a lady of Cartagena.
, the newspaper “La Democracia”, with the intention of promoting the presidential election of General José María Obando
, as successor to José Hilario López. That same year he was appointed as Chief of Staff in Cartagena's government, and thus beginning his political life.
In 1853 he was elected as MP to the Colombian Congress. In 1854 he was elected Governor of the department of Bolívar. Between 1855-1857, during the government of Manuel María Mallarino
, he served as Minister of the Treasury and Minister of War (nowadays called Minister of Defense).
In 1855 he published his first volume of political essays, under the name of "La Federación". Later, under the government of Mosquera
, he served as Minister of the Treasury.
After representing Colombia in the Ríonegro Treaty, he travelled abroad. He first lived in New York City
for two years. Than he represented Colombia as a Diplomat in Le Havre
and later he was appointed as the Colombian Consul in Liverpool
.
He returned to Colombia in 1876 at the center of a political fight. He had been nominated as a candidate for the presidency in 1875, but did not win the election. Five years later he was elected President of Colombia for the 1880-1882 presidential term. Again, in 1884, he was re-elected President of Colombia, with the support of the Conservative Party.
He was the force behind La Regeneración (Regeneration) movement of 1884 and the new Constitution for Colombia of 1886.
The Constitutional reform of 1886, carried out with the collaboration of Miguel Antonio Caro, is possibly the most outstanding political performance of Núñez. This constitution, with some later modifications, was essentially in effect until the proclamation of a new one in 1991.
From 1878 to 1888 he wrote hundreds of influential articles related to the constitutional reform for the newspapers 'La Luz' and 'La Nación' of Bogota, and 'El Porvenir' and 'El Impulso' of Cartagena. He also wrote the lyrics for the Colombian national anthem
.
He was again re-elected to be President of Colombia in 1886 and in 1892, although he did not take office for his last term. Rather, his Vice-President, Miguel Antonio Caro
was sworn in as President for the presidential tern of 1892-1898.
During his second administration, Rafael Núñez sponsored, championed and enacted a mayor and fundamental overhaul of the nation’s political structure, which ended with the adoption and enactment of the new Constitution of the Republic of Colombia, which came to be known as the Constitution of 1886.
Rafael Núñez was the author of the words to the national anthem
of Colombia, ¡Oh Gloria Inmarcesible!
.
Rafael Núñez is mentioned in Gabriel García Márquez
's 1985 novel, Love in the Time of Cholera (Amor en los tiempos del cólera).
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, lawyer, journalist and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who was elected President of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
in 1880 and in 1884. Rafael Núñez was born in Cartagena de Indias, on September 28, 1825. He died in Cartagena on September 18, 1894.
Early life
Little is known about the early years of Rafael Núñez. It is known that he served as a Circuit Judge in ChiriquíChiriquí Province
Chiriquí is a province of Panama, it is located on the western coast of Panama, and it is also the second most developed province in the country, after the Panamá Province. Its capital is the city of David. It has a total area of 6,490.9 km², with a population of 416,873 as of the year 2010...
, 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...
in 1848.
Rafael Núñez married Soledad Román, the love of his life, a lady of Cartagena.
Political career
In 1848, Rafael Núñez founded in Cartagena, ColombiaCartagena, 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...
, the newspaper “La Democracia”, with the intention of promoting the presidential election of General José María Obando
José María Obando
José María Ramón Obando del Campo was a Neogranadine General and politician who twice served as President of Colombia...
, as successor to José Hilario López. That same year he was appointed as Chief of Staff in Cartagena's government, and thus beginning his political life.
In 1853 he was elected as MP to the Colombian Congress. In 1854 he was elected Governor of the department of Bolívar. Between 1855-1857, during the government of Manuel María Mallarino
Manuel María Mallarino
Manuel María Mallarino Ibargüen was a Colombian politician, lawyer and Member of Congress, who served as Vice-President of the New Granada, and as such he occupied the presidency of the country between 1855 and 1857....
, he served as Minister of the Treasury and Minister of War (nowadays called Minister of Defense).
In 1855 he published his first volume of political essays, under the name of "La Federación". Later, under the government of Mosquera
Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera
Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera y Arboleda was a Colombian general and political figure. He was president of Colombia four times. The first time was as president of Republic of New Granada from 1845 to 1849. During the Colombian Civil War of 1860-1862 he led liberal forces in a civil war against...
, he served as Minister of the Treasury.
After representing Colombia in the Ríonegro Treaty, he travelled abroad. He first lived in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for two years. Than he represented Colombia as a Diplomat in Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
and later he was appointed as the Colombian Consul in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
He returned to Colombia in 1876 at the center of a political fight. He had been nominated as a candidate for the presidency in 1875, but did not win the election. Five years later he was elected President of Colombia for the 1880-1882 presidential term. Again, in 1884, he was re-elected President of Colombia, with the support of the Conservative Party.
He was the force behind La Regeneración (Regeneration) movement of 1884 and the new Constitution for Colombia of 1886.
The Constitutional reform of 1886, carried out with the collaboration of Miguel Antonio Caro, is possibly the most outstanding political performance of Núñez. This constitution, with some later modifications, was essentially in effect until the proclamation of a new one in 1991.
From 1878 to 1888 he wrote hundreds of influential articles related to the constitutional reform for the newspapers 'La Luz' and 'La Nación' of Bogota, and 'El Porvenir' and 'El Impulso' of Cartagena. He also wrote the lyrics for the Colombian national anthem
National Anthem of Colombia
Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia is the official name of the national anthem of Colombia...
.
He was again re-elected to be President of Colombia in 1886 and in 1892, although he did not take office for his last term. Rather, his Vice-President, Miguel Antonio Caro
Miguel Antonio Caro
Miguel Antonio Caro Tobar was a Colombian scholar, poet, journalist, philosopher, orator, philologist, lawyer and politician.- Biographic data :Miguel Antonio Caro was born in Bogotá on November 10, 1845, and he died in the same city on August 5, 1909....
was sworn in as President for the presidential tern of 1892-1898.
Major Accomplishments
During his first administration, Rafael Núñez restores peace and order. He allowed the Catholic Bishops, who were in exile, to return to the country. He created the Military Academy and the National Academy of Music. He inaugurated the international telegraph service. He re-established diplomatic relationships with Spain, which had been severed since the War of Independence. And he signed international treaties of commerce and cultural exchange with France and Great Britain.During his second administration, Rafael Núñez sponsored, championed and enacted a mayor and fundamental overhaul of the nation’s political structure, which ended with the adoption and enactment of the new Constitution of the Republic of Colombia, which came to be known as the Constitution of 1886.
In literature
In 1874, while in Europe, many of the most important writings of Núñez were published.Rafael Núñez was the author of the words to the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Colombia, ¡Oh Gloria Inmarcesible!
National Anthem of Colombia
Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia is the official name of the national anthem of Colombia...
.
Rafael Núñez is mentioned in Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
's 1985 novel, Love in the Time of Cholera (Amor en los tiempos del cólera).