Manuel Murillo Toro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manuel Murillo Toro
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| 9th President of the United States of Colombia | |
| In office 1 April 1872 – 1 April 1874 |
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| Preceded by | Eustorgio Salgar |
| Succeeded by | Santiago Pérez |
| 15th President of Colombia | |
| In office 8 April 1864 – 1 April 1866 |
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| Preceded by | Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera |
| Succeeded by | José María Rojas Garrido |
| 2nd President of the Sovereign State of Santander | |
| In office 23 October 1857 – 10 January 1859 |
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| Preceded by | Estanislao Silva Calderón |
| Succeeded by | Ulpiano Valenzuela |
| Secretary of Finance | |
| In office 1849–1853 |
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| President | José Hilario López |
| 4th Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of New Granada to Venezuela | |
| In office 1867–1869 |
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| President | Santos Acosta Castillo |
| In office 1874–1876 |
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| President | Santiago Pérez |
| Preceded by | Antonio María Pradilla |
| Succeeded by | José Sergio Camargo Pinzón |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1816 Chaparral, Tolima, U.S. Colombia |
| Died | 26 December 1880 (aged 64) Bogotá, Cundinamarca, U.S. Colombia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Ana Roma y Cabarcas |
Manuel Murillo Toro (born January 1, 1816 – died December 26, 1880) was an important Colombian leader. He served as President of the United States of Colombia, which is now known as Colombia. He was president two times: first from 1864 to 1866, and again from 1872 to 1874.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Manuel Murillo Toro was born in Chaparral, a town in the Tolima region of Colombia, on January 1, 1816. He studied law and earned his degree from the University of Bogotá. He passed away in Bogotá, Cundinamarca, on December 26, 1880.
Starting His Career in Politics
Murillo Toro began his career by writing articles for daily newspapers. His writings were strong and spoke against the Conservative government of José Ignacio de Márquez, which was in power from 1837 to 1840. After a revolution in 1840, he became the editor of a newspaper called Gaceta Mercantil de Santa Marta. This newspaper was very influential. It helped the Liberal Party win the elections in 1849.
Murillo Toro was elected to the chamber of representatives. He quickly became known for his excellent speaking skills. He was then asked to serve as Secretary of State and later as Secretary of the Treasury under President José Hilario López.
Key Reforms as Secretary of the Treasury
As Secretary of the Treasury, Murillo Toro made important changes. He supported freedom for industries and allowed local governments to manage their own money. These changes helped prepare the way for Colombia to become a federal country, where states have more power.
He also defended the government's actions in the newspapers. He helped start many new reforms, which are improvements or changes. These included:
- Ending slavery
- Stopping the death penalty for political crimes
- Getting rid of several government monopolies (where the government was the only seller of certain goods)
He also strongly supported freedom of the press and changes to the civil law.
Moving Forward in His Career
In 1852, Murillo Toro tried to become the vice president, but he was not successful. When the Liberal Party lost power, he went back to journalism. He strongly opposed the Conservative government, except for a short time when he was the leader of the Santander state.
When President Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was removed from power, and a new federal system was announced in 1863, Murillo Toro was appointed as a minister to Europe. Later, he served as a minister to the United States.
First Time as President
Murillo Toro ran for President of Colombia in the 1864 election. He represented the Colombian Liberal Party. The Conservative Party did not take part in this election. Murillo Toro had two other Liberal opponents, Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera and Santos Gutiérrez.
Murillo Toro won the election and became president for the term from 1864 to 1866. His time as president was known for trying to bring people together. During his presidency, the first telegraph lines were set up in Colombia. This was a big step for communication!
After His First Presidency
After his term ended, he was elected to the federal senate. He spoke out against some unfair actions by President Mosquera. Because of this, he was arrested with others when the congress was closed in March 1867.
After Mosquera was removed from power in May 1867, Murillo Toro became a member of the legislature in Cundinamarca. He later served briefly as a minister to the United States again and as a judge in the supreme court. In all these roles, he always stuck to the ideas he had promoted as a journalist and lawmaker.
Second Time as President
Murillo Toro ran for President of Colombia again in the 1872 election. He was still representing the Colombian Liberal Party. He also received some help from the Conservative Party. He had two other opponents, Manuel Mallarino and Julián Trujillo Largacha.
Murillo Toro won the election and served as president for the term from 1872 to 1874. By winning this election, he became the first civilian to be elected President of Colombia for a second time.
Later Years and Legacy
After his second presidency, his successor, Santiago Pérez de Manosalbas, sent him to Venezuela. His job was to discuss and settle border issues between Colombia and Venezuela. Murillo Toro debated very skillfully on all the points raised by the Venezuelan representative. However, they could not agree on a treaty.
Murillo Toro was elected as a senator again in 1878. He took his seat in the next session of congress. However, he became sick and could not attend in 1880. He passed away in the same year.
What He Achieved for Colombia
Manuel Murillo Toro was a strong supporter of important rights. He helped create and pass laws that protected:
- Freedom of religion (people could practice any religion they chose)
- Freedom of assembly (people could gather together peacefully)
- Freedom of the press (newspapers and writers could express their ideas freely)
He also helped establish the National Press and Telegraph Institute and the National Cartography Institute. These institutions were important for communication and mapping the country.
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Murillo Toro para niños
