Marco Fidel Suárez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marco Fidel Suárez
8th President of Colombia
In office August 10, 1918 – August 10, 1921
Preceded by	José Vicente Concha
Succeeded by	Jorge Holguín
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office August 7, 1926 – January 12, 1927
President	Miguel Abadía Méndez
Preceded by	Eduardo Restrepo Sáenz
Succeeded by	Carlos Uribe
In office August 7, 1914 – October 30, 1917
President	José Vicente Concha
Preceded by	Francisco José Urrutia
Succeeded by	Emilio Ferrero
In office March 10, 1891 – 1895
President	Carlos Holguín (1891-1892) Miguel Antonio Caro (1892-1895)
Preceded by	Antonio Roldán
Succeeded by	José Maria Uricoechea
Minister of Public Instruction
In office November 23, 1911 – February 12, 1912
President	Carlos Eugenio Restrepo
Preceded by	José María González Valencia
Succeeded by	Carlos Cuervo Márquez
In office August 7, 1898 – July 31, 1900
President	Manuel Antonio Sanclemente
Succeeded by	Miguel Abadía Méndez
Personal details
Born	(1855-04-23)April 23, 1855 Hatoviejo, Antioquia, Republic of New Granada
Died	April 3, 1927(1927-04-03) (aged 71) Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Nationality	Colombian
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Isabel Orrantia y Borda
Children	María Antonia and Gabriel

Marco Fidel Suárez (born April 23, 1855 – died April 3, 1927) was an important political figure from Colombia. He served as the president of Colombia from 1918 to 1921. He was born in a small town called Hatoviejo, in the region of Antioquia.

Early Life and Education

Marco Fidel Suárez came from a very humble background. He was born in a simple two-room hut in Hatoviejo, which is now the town of Bello, Antioquia. His mother, Rosalía Suárez, worked as a laundress. His father was a wealthy man who did not officially recognize him.

Because his mother could not afford to send him to school, young Marco Fidel would stand outside the local public school. He would listen carefully to the lessons through the window. Sometimes, when other students couldn't answer the teacher's questions, he would shout out the correct answers. The teacher was so impressed by his eagerness and intelligence that he invited Marco Fidel to attend classes for free.

Later, he studied at a Catholic seminary. He learned philosophy, literature, and theology. Although he did not become a priest, his studies helped him become a very educated person. In the 1870s, he even took part in a local conflict in Antioquia, showing bravery and becoming a Lieutenant.

A Talented Writer and Thinker

Marco Fidel Suárez became well-known as a brilliant writer, poet, and teacher. He was also a philologist, which means he was an expert in language and grammar. Along with other famous scholars like Rufino José Cuervo, he is considered one of the most important experts on Spanish grammar in Colombia.

His most famous literary work is called “los Sueños de Luciano Pulgar” (The Dreams of Luciano Pulgar), which he wrote in 1926. This book showed his deep understanding of language and his thoughtful ideas.

Presidency and Key Achievements

As president, Marco Fidel Suárez introduced a policy called the "North Star" policy. This policy aimed to strengthen Colombia's relationship with the United States of America.

During his time as president, he faced criticism from some political opponents. However, his Secretary of State, Antonio Gómez Restrepo, famously defended him by saying, “You will always be the legitimate President of Colombia”.

Suárez made several important changes for Colombia. In 1918, he helped pass a law that created the income tax. This tax helped the government collect money to fund public services. A year later, in 1919, he worked to connect the country with an advanced system of wireless telegraphy. This made communication much faster and easier across Colombia.

He was also very interested in aviation. In 1919, he approved Law 126, which allowed commercial aviation to start in Colombia. This law made it possible for international travel and postal services to be carried out by air. Just a year later, he invited a French team to Colombia to help establish and train the Colombian Air Force.

Personal Life

Marco Fidel Suárez married Isabel Orrantia y Borda in August 1895. They had two children together. Sadly, his wife passed away six years later. His son also died in New York in 1918, and his mother died in March 1918.

Because of these losses, the day he became the 35th President of Colombia, on August 7, 1918, was filled with both great honor and deep sadness for him.

"The Son of the Hut" Movie

In 1959, a movie about Marco Fidel Suárez's life was made by director Enock Roldan. The movie was called El Hijo de la Choza, which means "The Son of the Hut." It became very popular and even sold more tickets in Colombia than the famous movie The Ten Commandments.

The film told the story of his parents, his birth, his difficult childhood, and how he overcame many challenges to become the President of Colombia.

Lasting Influence

In 1881, Marco Fidel Suárez won an award for being the best Colombian writer from the "Academia Colombiana de la Lengua" (Colombian Academy of Language). His writing honored the 100th birthday of Don Andrés Bello, another important scholar.

To recognize his contributions, his hometown of Hatoviejo was renamed Bello, Antioquia. The small hut where he was born and lived as a child is now preserved as a museum in Bello, Antioquia. It reminds people of his humble beginnings and his journey to becoming a national leader.

Interesting Facts

Colombians are proud that many of their presidents have been writers or poets, and Marco Fidel Suárez fits into this group.

There are many popular stories about Suárez. One famous story tells of a time in Congress when an opponent tried to make fun of him for his humble birth. Suárez cleverly replied, "Sir: I am a child of love, it is true. You are a child of obligation."

Marco Fidel Suárez is also mentioned in the famous novel Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez.

See also

In Spanish: Marco Fidel Suárez para niños