José Rafael Pocaterra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Rafael Pocaterra
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| Minister of Communications | |
| In office 1939–1941 |
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| President | Eleazar López Contreras |
| Preceded by | Héctor Cuenca |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 December 1889 Valencia, Venezuela |
| Died | 18 April 1955 (aged 65) Montreal, Canada |
| Profession | Writer, journalist, politician |
José Rafael Pocaterra (born December 18, 1889 – died April 18, 1955) was an important Venezuelan writer, journalist, and politician. He is known for his strong opinions and for fighting against unfair rulers in his country.
Contents
Early Life and Fight for Freedom
José Rafael Pocaterra was born in Valencia, Venezuela. From a young age, he showed a passion for writing and expressing his thoughts. He became a journalist, which meant he wrote for newspapers.
Standing Up to Dictators
Pocaterra often wrote against the government, especially against the powerful leader Juan Vicente Gómez. Because of his writings, he was put in prison several times.
- In 1907, he was jailed for his work on an opposition newspaper called Caín.
- From 1919 to 1922, he was imprisoned again. This was after he tried to help remove the dictator Juan Vicente Gómez from power.
While in prison, Pocaterra continued to write. He wrote a history book called Memorias de un venezolano de la decadencia. This book was published in 1927. He also wrote a novel called La casa de los Ábila, which came out in 1946.
Later Efforts Against the Government
In 1929, Pocaterra joined another attempt to overthrow Juan Vicente Gómez. This effort was called the Falke expedition, but it was not successful.
Public Service and Diplomacy
After the time of the dictator, José Rafael Pocaterra took on important roles in the government.
Serving as a Minister
Under President Eleazar López Contreras, Pocaterra became the Minister of Communications. He held this position from 1939 to 1941. This role meant he was in charge of things like mail, telegraphs, and early forms of broadcasting.
Representing Venezuela Abroad
Later, he served as an ambassador for Venezuela in several countries. An ambassador is a person who represents their country in another nation.
- He was an ambassador to the United Kingdom.
- He also served in the Soviet Union, Brazil, and the United States.
Pocaterra resigned from his role as Ambassador to Washington in 1950.
His Writings
José Rafael Pocaterra was a talented writer. He wrote many books, including novels and collections of short stories.
Novels
- Política feminista: o, El doctor Bebé (1910)
- Vidas oscuras (1912)
- Tierra del sol amada (1917)
- La casa de los Ábila (1946)
Other Works
- Cuentos grotescos (1922): This is a famous collection of his short stories.
- Memorias de un venezolano de la decadencia (1927): This book shares his memories and thoughts on Venezuelan history.
See also
In Spanish: José Rafael Pocaterra para niños
