Mariano Ospina Rodríguez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mariano Ospina Rodríguez
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Oil painting of Mariano Ospina Rodríguez by unknown author
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| 1st President of the Granadine Confederation | |
| In office May 22, 1858 – March 31, 1861 |
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| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Bartolomé Calvo |
| 14th President of Colombia | |
| In office April 1, 1857 – April 1, 1861 |
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| Preceded by | Manuel María Mallarino |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Governor of the State of Antioquia | |
| In office January 1, 1854 – April 12, 1855 |
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| Preceded by | Juan Antonio Gómez |
| Succeeded by | Rafael María Giraldo Zuluaga |
| Governor of the State of Antioquia | |
| In office June 1, 1845 – July 15, 1847 |
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| Preceded by | Gregorio Hoyo |
| Succeeded by | Sinforiano Hernández |
| In office December 5, 1836 – January 13, 1837 |
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| Preceded by | Francisco Antonio Obregón |
| Succeeded by | José María Arango |
| Personal details | |
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Mariano Ospina Rodríguez
October 18, 1805 Guasca, Viceroyalty of New Granada |
| Died | January 11, 1885 (aged 79) Medellín, Antioquia, United States of Colombia |
| Resting place | San Pedro Cemetery Museum |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses | Marcelina Barrientos Zulaibar, Maria del Rosario Barrientos Zulaibar, Enriqueta Vásquez Jaramillo |
| Relations | Mariano Ospina Pérez (grandson) |
| Children | Mariano, Tulio, Pedro Nel Ospina, Rafael and Santiago |
| Alma mater | Colegio de San Bartolomé |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician, journalist, educator |
| Profession | Lawyer |
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Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was an important Colombian politician, journalist, and lawyer. He helped create the Colombian Conservative Party. He later became the President of Colombia from 1857 to 1861. This was during a time known as the Granadine Confederation.
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Who Was Mariano Ospina Rodríguez?
Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was born in Guasca, which was then part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. His birthday was October 18, 1805. His parents were Santiago Ospina and Urbina Rodríguez. He passed away in Medellín, Antioquia, on January 11, 1885. He was buried at the San Pedro Cemetery Museum. His son, Tulio Ospina, was later buried next to him.
Early Life and Education
Mariano Ospina Rodríguez was taught at home by his parents. He also had a private teacher named José Félix Restrepo. He later studied at the School of San Bartolomé in Bogotá. In 1827, he earned a law degree there. Even when he was young, Ospina believed that good education was key. He thought it could help a country grow economically and improve people's lives.
Family Connections
Mariano Ospina Rodríguez had a famous family. He was the father of Pedro Nel Ospina, who also became president. He was also the grandfather of Mariano Ospina Pérez, another future president of Colombia.
Early Political Steps
After finishing his law studies in 1828, Ospina joined a group of thinkers and politicians. They disagreed with General Simón Bolívar becoming the dictator of Colombia. This group planned a secret action against Bolívar. On September 25, 1828, they attacked the government palace, the Palacio de San Carlos. Ospina was part of this group. The plan failed, but Ospina managed to escape. This event is known as the Noche Septembrina (the September Night).
Many people involved in the Noche Septembrina were caught and sentenced to death. Ospina fled Bogotá to save his life. He found safety in Antioquia, where his teacher José Félix de Restrepo lived.
In 1829, Ospina joined General José María Córdova's army in a conflict against General Bolívar. General Córdova was killed, and Ospina hid in the mountains until 1830. When Antioquia declared itself an independent state, Ospina was named its Secretary of State.
Important Roles in Government
Ospina joined President Pedro Alcántara Herrán's government in 1841. He first served as the Secretary of the Interior. Later, he became the Secretary of State, serving until 1845. As Minister of the Interior, he started a big education plan in 1842. This plan helped expand universities and increase their resources.
Founding the Conservative Party
Mariano Ospina was also a teacher, journalist, and political leader. He was one of the people who founded the Colombian Conservative Party. In 1848, he worked with José Eusebio Caro to write the main ideas and goals of the party. They also started a newspaper called La Civilización to share their political views.
Serving in Congress and as Governor
Ospina was elected to Congress in 1849. A few years later, in 1854, he was chosen as the Governor of Antioquia. He served as Governor of Antioquia twice. His first term was from June 1, 1845, to July 15, 1847. His second term was from January 1, 1854, to April 12, 1855.
Becoming President
In 1857, Ospina ran for President of Colombia. He represented the Colombian Conservative Party. His opponents were two liberal leaders, Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera and Manuel Murillo Toro. Ospina won the election and became president for the term from 1857 to 1861.
During his time as president, he appointed Manuel Antonio Sanclemente to important roles. Sanclemente first served as his Minister of Government and then as his Minister of War.
The Coffee Pioneer
Mariano Ospina was one of the first and most important people to bring coffee growing to Colombia. He had a strong desire to try new things. In 1835, he started looking for the best places in the mountains of Antioquia to grow coffee. He set up his first experimental coffee farm in Fredonia, Antioquia. He studied coffee growing with great interest and a scientific approach. Thanks to his careful work, Colombia began producing some of the best coffee in the world, especially the Coffea arabica type.
After his presidency, in 1862, Ospina and his brother Pastor escaped from prison. They had been imprisoned by the leader Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera. They found safety in Guatemala. There, they continued to plant coffee and even ran a "Scientific and Industrial College." By 1865, Ospina had expanded his coffee business to Guatemala. This made him one of the first coffee growing pioneers in Central America.
Ospina used his vast knowledge of coffee to help farmers in Colombia. He taught them how to grow coffee effectively. In 1880, he helped establish the first public university in Colombia, the Escuela Nacional de Minas de Medellín. He also published textbooks on "efficient and effective coffee growing techniques." His efforts, research, and teachings greatly benefited the country. His passion and hard work helped coffee growing become Colombia's main export. This changed the nation's economy forever.
In 1880, the National Press of Colombia published Ospina's first instruction manual for coffee growing. It was called "Cultivo del Café: Nociones Elementales al alcance de todos los labradores" (Coffee Growing: Basic notions available to all farmers). This book was based on his many years of research and experience. Ospina dedicated much of his time to teaching and sharing useful knowledge. Later, in 1931, a second coffee growing manual was published. This was done under the direction of Mariano Ospina Pérez, who was the General Manager of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia.
In 1882, Ospina and his two sons, Mariano and Tulio, started their first large coffee farms. They also built major coffee processing plants in "El Cerro Bravo" in Fredonia, Antioquia. These farms were among the first to use machines to process coffee.
Coffee in Central America
In the 1860s, two important families from Antioquia, Colombia, moved to Guatemala. These were the Ospinas and the Vásquez families. They were good at business and had access to money. They also had strong family ties. This helped them succeed as coffee farms grew in Guatemala. They became known for owning "Las Mercedes," one of the largest and most famous coffee farms in Central America at the time.
In 1863, Ospina, who had been president of Colombia, arrived in Guatemala. He came with his wife Enriqueta Vásquez, their four younger children, and his brother Pastor. The Guatemalan government had given them a safe place to live. They settled in a region called "Costa Cuca" and started their main coffee farm, "Las Mercedes." This farm became famous throughout Central America for being very productive and well-managed.
The growth of coffee exports was very important for Central American countries. It helped their economies grow in the late 1800s. This time of economic growth is sometimes called "the second conquest of Latin America." During this period (1860–1930), trade between Western Europe, the United States, and Latin America reached new high levels.
Because the coffee industry became the main driver of economic growth in Guatemala, it also helped other areas. These included banks, public works, and modernizing farming and manufacturing. Because of their contributions, the Ospina brothers were seen as important as the "Founding Fathers" of Guatemala.
Mariano Ospina returned to Colombia with his family in October 1871. They moved back to Fredonia, Antioquia. There, they continued their coffee business and managed their plantations.
Images for kids
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The San Pedro Cemetery Museum, where Mariano Ospina Rodríguez is buried.
-Medellin.JPG)
See also
In Spanish: Mariano Ospina Rodríguez para niños
