Juan Antonio Escurra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juan Antonio Escurra
16th President of Paraguay
In office November 25, 1902 – December 19, 1904
Vice President	Manuel Domínguez
Preceded by	Héctor Carvallo
Succeeded by	Juan Gaona
Personal details
Born	(1859-05-06)May 6, 1859 Caraguatay
Died	August 24, 1929(1929-08-24) (aged 70) Villa Hayes
Nationality	Paraguayan
Political party	Colorado

Juan Antonio Escurra (born May 6, 1859 – died August 24, 1929) was a leader who served as the President of Paraguay. He was president from 1902 to 1904.

He was born in Caraguatay, a town in the Cordillera region of Paraguay. Juan Antonio Escurra married Josefa M. Rojas. She came from a well-known family and later became the First Lady of the nation. His family worked in farming, growing crops like cotton, corn, and fruits.

Early Life and Military Career

Juan Antonio Escurra went to school in his hometown. After finishing school, he worked in farming. In 1879, when he was 20 years old, he joined the army. He quickly moved up in rank.

In 1891, he became a Commander in the Misiones region. By 1892, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In 1897, he became a Colonel. He was also a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry. He played a part in a big change in government in 1891. He helped protect the government of General Egusquiza during a time of unrest.

His Time as President

Juan Antonio Escurra became President of Paraguay when he was 43 years old. His term started on November 25, 1902. He was supposed to serve until 1906, but his government ended early. A political uprising in 1904 led to his removal from office.

His Vice-President was Manuel Dominguez. Many of the people in Escurra's government were quite young. Their ages ranged from 26 to 43 years old. His team included important figures like Fulgencio R. Moreno and Juan Bautista Gaona. They worked in different government departments.

Key Achievements During His Presidency

During President Escurra's time, several important things happened. A respected school called San José was founded. The country's money and budget became more stable. The national currency held a good value.

Trade and business also grew a lot. Companies like Casal Ribeiro successfully sent tobacco and cotton to Europe. Another company, Rius y Jorba, exported large amounts of leather and wool.

Other notable events included:

• A delegate was sent to a Medical Congress in Buenos Aires.
• The first group of doctors graduated from the National University.
• San Antonio was officially made a district.
• Land called Solar Artigas was given to Uruguay.
• Plans were made to build a monument to the Heroes of Ytororó.
• Paraguay adopted the Argentine Code of Commerce for business rules.

Foreign Relations and Education

During his presidency, Paraguay also worked on its relationships with other countries. In 1903, Cecilio Báez was appointed to represent Paraguay in Mexico and the United States.

In education, a big event was the First National Congress of Teachers. This meeting happened in February 1903. Also, a new teaching method called the "Franco Plan" was adopted in the National School in 1904. That same year, a famous poet named Narciso R. Colmán became a judge. In 1903, several students graduated from the Faculty of Medicine. These included Andrés Barbero and Eusebio Taboada.

End of His Presidency

In August 1904, there was a lot of military activity. This led to a revolution in October. This uprising ended President Escurra's government. His removal marked the end of one political era in Paraguay. It also started a new period known as the Liberal era.

After leaving office, Juan Antonio Escurra stepped away from politics. He chose to live a quiet life. He moved to Villa Hayes and started a family there.

Political Background

Before becoming president, Juan Antonio Escurra had a significant political career. From 1898 to 1902, he served as the Minister of War and Navy. He held this position under Presidents Emilio Aceval and Héctor Carvallo. He was a member of the Colorado Party.

A Farewell with Honors

Colonel Juan Antonio Escurra passed away in Villa Hayes on August 24, 1929. The government decided to honor him with a special ceremony. His wake was held at the "Palacio de López," which is a very important building. His body was buried in the Recoleta Cemetery.

When his coffin arrived at the port of Asunción, military honors were given. Many important people attended his funeral. These included President José P. Guggiari, members of the Supreme Court, and members of Parliament. Many friends, party members, and important families were also there. A special mass was held at the Metropolitan Cathedral by the Archbishop of Asunción.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Antonio Escurra para niños