Víctor Andrés Belaúnde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde
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| President of the 14th UN General Assembly | |
| In office 1959–1960 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Malik |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Henry Boland |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 8 January 1958 – 4 April 1958 |
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| President | Manuel Prado Ugarteche |
| Prime Minister | Manuel Cisneros Sánchez |
| Preceded by | Manuel Cisneros Sánchez |
| Succeeded by | Raul Porras Barrenechea |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde Diez-Canseco
15 December 1883 Arequipa |
| Died | 14 December 1966 (aged 82) New York |
| Nationality | Peruvian |
| Political party | National Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Teresa Moreyra y Paz-Soldán |
| Alma mater | University of San Marcos |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Awards | Order of the Sun |
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde Diez Canseco (born December 15, 1883 – died December 14, 1966) was an important Peruvian diplomat, politician, and thinker. He was known for his work in government and education.
Belaúnde served as the President of the United Nations General Assembly from 1959 to 1960. He was also Peru's Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1958. He was a respected professor at the San Marcos University and later at the Pontifical Catholic University, where he became an honored leader.
Contents
Life Story
Early Life and School
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde was born in Arequipa, Peru, in 1883. His father, Mariano Andrés Belaúnde de la Torre, was a politician and landowner. His mother, Mercedes Diez-Canseco y Vargas, was the daughter of General Pedro Diez Canseco, who was President of Peru several times.
Víctor went to school in Arequipa. He then studied law at the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa. Later, he continued his studies at the National University of San Marcos. He earned his law degree in 1904 and a doctorate in 1908. He also earned doctorates in political science and literature in 1911.
Working as a Diplomat
Belaúnde started working in diplomacy in 1903. He helped with important maps and documents for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also worked on diplomatic missions in Madrid and Buenos Aires.
From 1907 to 1911, he was in charge of the "Limits Section" at the Ministry. He then became a diplomat in Berlin (1911) and La Paz (1915). During this time, he also studied history and English literature at famous universities like Oxford and Cambridge in England.
When he returned to Peru, he got married to Sofía Yrigoyen. He also helped start the National Democratic Party. In 1918, he created a well-known literary magazine called Mercurio Peruano.
In 1919, he was appointed Minister to Uruguay. However, he resigned after a new leader, Augusto B. Leguía, took power. He then gave talks at American universities, including Columbia. After returning to Peru, he taught law at the University of San Marcos again. But he was arrested and sent away from Peru in 1921 for speaking against the government.
Time in Exile
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde lived as a political exile for nine years. During this time, he focused on teaching and writing. He taught about Latin American culture and history at Williams College and Middlebury College in 1922.
In 1923, he moved to Houston, where he taught Spanish and American history at Rice Institute (now Rice University). That same year, he married Teresa Moreyra y Paz-Soldán in Paris.
He later moved to Miami and helped found the University of Miami. With his brother Rafael, he started the Latin American Department there in 1926. He was also a member of the university's board and directed special programs. The University of Miami later gave him an honorary degree.
He also taught history at the University of Virginia (1927-1928), the Sorbonne (1927), and the University of Chicago (1930). In 1930, he gave important lectures on diplomatic history at Johns Hopkins University.
In 1938, Belaúnde published an important book called Bolívar and the Political Thought of the Spanish American Revolution. This book was based on his lectures and explored the ideas behind the Spanish American revolutions.
Coming Back to Peru
Belaúnde returned to Peru in 1930 after a military leader overthrew the government. He joined a group that was writing a new constitution for Peru. In 1931, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly. He strongly supported women's right to vote and a government with two legislative houses.
He tried to return to teaching at San Marcos University. However, he was not chosen for a leadership role and left the university for good. Soon after, he was invited to teach at the Catholic University of Lima. He became a professor of constitutional law and history there. In 1932, he became the first Dean of the Faculty of Political and Economical Sciences.
Throughout his career, Belaúnde held many important roles. He was a diplomat in many countries, including Germany, Bolivia, Uruguay, Colombia, and Switzerland. He led the Peruvian group that helped create the United Nations. He was also the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1959. He served as the leader of the Catholic University of Peru from 1965.
He also gave many lectures on Hispanic-American culture at universities in the United States. In 1944, he was recognized as an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde passed away in New York City.
Family Connections
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde came from a well-known political family in Peru. His nephew, Fernando Belaunde Terry, was President of Peru twice. His brother, Rafael Belaunde Diez Canseco, was Prime Minister. His grandfather, Pedro Diez Canseco, was also President three times.
Important Writings
Víctor Andrés Belaúnde wrote many books and articles. Here are a few of his important works:
- The Philosophy of Law and the Positivist Method (1904)
- The Ancient Peru and the Modern Sociologists (1908)
- Bolívar and the Political Thought of the Spanish American Revolution (1938)
See also
In Spanish: Víctor Andrés Belaúnde para niños
