Pablo Riccheri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pablo Riccheri
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| Minister of War | |
| In office July 13, 1900 – October 12, 1904 |
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| President | Julio Roca |
| Preceded by | Rosendo Fraga |
| Succeeded by | Enrique Godoy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 8, 1859 San Lorenzo, Santa Fe |
| Died | July 29, 1936 (aged 76) Buenos Aires |
| Nationality |  Argentina |
| Spouse | Dolores Murature |
Pablo Riccheri (born August 8, 1859 – died July 29, 1936) was an important Argentine army officer. He served as the Minister of War during the second time Julio Roca was president.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pablo Riccheri was born in San Lorenzo, Santa Fe. His parents, Catalina Ciufardi and Lazzaro Riccheri, were immigrants from Liguria, Italy.
He received a scholarship to attend the National War College. He finished his studies with high honors in 1879. He became a second lieutenant. Later, he continued his education at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium in Brussels. There, he wrote a paper about how to defend Belgium. He earned an officer's degree in 1883.
Military Career and Reforms
Riccheri was promoted to captain and came back to Argentina in 1886. The next year, he worked at the Argentine Embassy in Berlin as a military expert. In 1890, he became the director of the European office for the Argentine Armaments Commission. He also led the Technical Commission on Armaments in 1895.
In this role, he bought many new Mauser rifles and cannons for 18 artillery batteries. He also helped build a 400 km (250 mi) rail line to Neuquén for the Argentine Army. He was made a colonel. In 1898, he returned to Argentina as the Director General of the National War Arsenal.
Pablo Riccheri married Dolores Murature in 1901. She was the granddaughter of Commodore José Félix Murature, a hero from the Cisplatine War of the 1820s. They faced personal difficulties in their family life.
Minister of War
President Julio Roca chose Riccheri to be the Army Chief of Staff. On July 13, 1900, President Roca named him the nation's War Minister. Roca praised Riccheri for his intelligence and dedication to improving the military.
During his time as Minister, Riccheri worked hard to make the Argentine Armed Forces more modern. This happened while there were some disagreements with Chile over border areas. Riccheri made many changes to the War Department. He brought back the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers, a famous group from past wars. He also improved the National War College and other training schools. He introduced standardized testing for soldiers.
Riccheri also helped create new Army bases. These included Campo de Mayo (near Buenos Aires), General Paz (in Córdoba), Campo de los Andes (in Mendoza), Paracao (in Paraná), and General Belgrano (in Salta). He divided the Army into different regions.
One of his most important achievements was Law 4.301, known as the Ricchieri Act, in 1901. This law made military service compulsory for all able-bodied Argentine men at age 18 for at least one year. This rule stayed in place until 1995.
Later Career and Legacy
Riccheri supported military action against Chile because of border disputes. However, a war was avoided thanks to the May Pacts and the Treaty of Arbitration in 1902. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1904. He left his role as War Minister when President Roca's term ended in October. He briefly served as Director of the National War College from October 1904 to January 1905.
He became Army Chief of Staff again and was promoted to major general in 1910. Riccheri believed the military should stay out of politics. However, he supported UCR leader Hipólito Yrigoyen in 1909. Yrigoyen wanted all men to be able to vote and to have secret ballots. These important changes were made with the Sáenz Peña Law in 1912.
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Riccheri and explorer Francisco Moreno started the Argentine Boy Scouts Association on July 4, 1912. Riccheri was its first secretary. He became its president after Moreno passed away in 1919. In 1916, he helped the Argentine Government understand World War I. Argentina was thinking about joining the Triple Entente allies. He retired from the military in 1922 as a lieutenant general.
Twelve years later, President Agustín Justo promoted him to Army General. This was to honor his excellent military service. Riccheri also received awards from other countries. These included the Order of the Red Eagle from Germany and awards from Chile and France. He was also made a Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown in Belgium.
Pablo Riccheri passed away in Buenos Aires in 1936. He was buried with high military honors in La Recoleta Cemetery. In 1952, National Route A002, which connects Buenos Aires to the airport, was named in his honor.
See also
In Spanish: Pablo Riccheri para niños
