Remigio Crespo Toral facts for kids

Remigio Crespo Toral in 1906

Remigio Crespo Toral was an important Ecuadorian writer and poet. He was born in Cuenca, Ecuador, on August 4, 1860, and passed away on July 8, 1939. He is remembered for his poems and his work in education and government.

Life and Early Career

Remigio Crespo Toral was born into a well-known family in Cuenca, Ecuador. He went to high school at the Seminary College in Cuenca from 1873 to 1877. After high school, he started studying law at the University of Cuenca. He earned his law degree nine years later, in 1886.

In the same year, 1886, he married Elvira Vega García. They had ten children together. Remigio Crespo Toral also started his career as a journalist in the 1880s. He wrote articles using the pen name "Stein."

Public Service and Recognition

Remigio Crespo Toral held several important positions in his life.

• In 1888, he became a leader in the Chamber of Deputies, which is part of Ecuador's government.
• In 1894, he was named Director of Studies for the Azuay Province.
• In 1905, the President of Ecuador, Leónidas Plaza Gutiérrez, chose him to be a lawyer for the country. His job was to help Ecuador in a disagreement with Peru.

In 1909, to celebrate 100 years since Ecuador's first step towards independence, Crespo Toral published a book called Cien años de emancipación (One Hundred Years of Emancipation). In 1913, he helped start the Banco del Azuay, which was the first bank in Cuenca.

A very special event happened in 1917. The President, Alfredo Baquerizo Moreno, declared him the national poet of Ecuador. This was a big ceremony held in the Central Park of Cuenca. Many important people attended, including President Baquerizo Moreno and ambassadors from countries like the United States, Belgium, Chile, and Peru.

In 1919, he helped create "La Fiesta de la Lira" (The Festival of the Lyre) with Alfonso Moreno Mora. This was a literary contest held in the quiet countryside outside the city.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1925, Remigio Crespo Toral was appointed Rector (the head) of the University of Cuenca. This was the same university where he had studied law many years before. He held this important position until he passed away in Cuenca on July 8, 1939.

Main Works

Here are some of the books and poems written by Remigio Crespo Toral:

• Últimos pensamientos de Bolívar (Bolívar's Last Thoughts) (1889)
• Canto a Sucre (Song to Sucre) (1897)
• Mi Poema (My Poem) (1898)
• Cien años de emancipación (One Hundred Years of Emancipation) (1909)
• América y España (America and Spain) (1909)
• La Leyenda de Hernán (The Legend of Hernán) (1917)

See also

In Spanish: Remigio Crespo Toral para niños