Guillermo Prieto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guillermo Prieto
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| Minister of Finance | |
| In office January 28, 1858 – August 5, 1858 |
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| President | Benito Juárez |
| Preceded by | Melchor Ocampo |
| Succeeded by | Melchor Ocampo |
| In office January 20, 1861 – April 5, 1861 |
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| President | Benito Juárez |
| Preceded by | Melchor Ocampo |
| Succeeded by | Francisco de P. Gochicoa |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| President | José María Iglesias |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1818 Mexico City |
| Died | 2 March 1897 (aged 79) Tacubaya, Mexico City |
| Resting place | Dolores Civil Cemetery 19°24′24″N 99°12′17″W / 19.40679°N 99.20459°W |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Emilia Golard |
| Occupation | Writer, journalist, politician. |
Guillermo Prieto Pradillo (born February 10, 1818 – died March 2, 1897) was a very important Mexican writer, poet, and politician. He was known for his strong support of the Liberal Party in Mexico. People at the time even called him Mexico's national poet!
Guillermo Prieto used different pen names when he wrote. Some of these were Don Benedeno and Fidel. He held important jobs in the government, like Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Contents
Guillermo Prieto: Early Life and Education
Guillermo Prieto was born in Mexico City. His father managed a mill and a bakery near Chapultepec Castle. This is where Guillermo spent his childhood.
When he was 13, his father passed away. His mother also became very ill. Luckily, two kind people, Andrés Quintana Roo and Fernando Calderón, helped him. This support allowed him to continue his studies. He worked in a clothing store and at customs before joining the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán.
Starting a Literary Movement
In 1836, Guillermo Prieto helped start the Academia de Letrán. He founded it with Manuel Toussaint Ferrer and the brothers José María and Juan Lacunza. Their main goal was to make Mexican literature more unique and "Mexican." Andrés Quintana Roo, who had helped Prieto, became the Academy's permanent director.
Becoming a Journalist
Prieto began his career as a journalist. He wrote about theater for a newspaper called El Siglo XX. His column was named Los San Lunes de Fidel. He also worked for El Monitor Republicano. Later, he and Ignacio Ramírez started a funny newspaper called Don Simplicio. From a young age, he was a strong supporter of the Liberal Party. He used his writing to share their ideas.
Guillermo Prieto: A Life in Politics
Guillermo Prieto became a personal secretary for important leaders like Valentín Gómez Farías and Anastasio Bustamante. Under Bustamante, he was the editor of the official government newspaper, El Diario Oficial.
Serving as Minister of Finance
He served as the Minister of Finance (which deals with a country's money) many times. He held this position under Presidents Mariano Arista, Juan Álvarez, and Benito Juárez. He was also a member of Congress 15 times. He helped write the constitution in 1856-57.
Supporting the Liberal Cause
Prieto strongly supported the Plan de Ayutla. This plan was announced in 1854 to remove the dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna from power. Because of his support, Prieto was sent away from Mexico City for a short time.
When Benito Juárez became president, Prieto continued to serve as his Minister of Finance. He even went into exile with President Juárez after a political takeover by Félix Zuloaga.
Saving President Juárez's Life
During the Reform War, a very important event happened. On March 14, 1858, in Guadalajara, Guillermo Prieto saved President Juárez's life! Rebellious guardsmen were about to shoot the president. Prieto bravely stepped between Juárez and the guns. The guardsmen backed down and did not shoot.
Prieto also wrote a funny song for the Liberal army called "Los cangrejos" (The Crabs). This song became very popular. When the Liberal army returned to Mexico City in 1861, ending the War of the Reform, they marched to the tune of "Los cangrejos."
Important Financial Decisions
After the government returned to Mexico City, Prieto, as Minister of Finance, made a big decision. He announced that church property had always belonged to the nation. This meant that any deals the church made without the government's permission were not valid.
Later in his career, he also served as the Minister of Foreign Relations under President José María Iglesias.
Guillermo Prieto: A Beloved Writer
In 1890, a newspaper called La República asked people to vote for Mexico's most popular poet. Guillermo Prieto won easily! Another famous writer, Ignacio Manuel Altamirano, called him "the Mexican poet par excellence, the poet of the Fatherland."
Guillermo Prieto was known for his lively and often funny writing style. He wrote about many different topics, always with a hint of his strong political beliefs. He passed away on March 2, 1897, at the age of 79.
Famous Works by Guillermo Prieto
Here are some of his most remembered works:
Poetry
- Versos inéditos (1879): This collection includes different types of poems.
- Musa callejera (1883): This work retells Mexican folk stories and traditions.
- El romancero nacional (1885): A long poem about Mexican patriotism and history.
Prose (Stories and Essays)
- Memorias de mis tiempos (1906): These are his memoirs, telling stories from his life.
- Viajes a los Estados Unidos (1878): His accounts of travels to the United States.
Drama (Plays)
- El Alférez (1840)
- Alonso de Ávila (1842)
- El Susto de Pinganillas (1843)
Guillermo Prieto also taught at the Military College. He wrote books on economics and history for his students.
See also
In Spanish: Guillermo Prieto para niños
