Eustorgio Salgar Moreno Salazar (1 November 1831 – 25 November 1885) was a Colombian lawyer, general and political figure, who was president of the United States of Colombia from 1870 until 1872.[1] Elected at age 39, he was the youngest president of Colombia.[2]

Eustorgio Salgar
10th President of the United States of Colombia
In office
April 1, 1870 – April 1, 1872
Preceded bySantos Gutiérrez
Succeeded byManuel Murillo Toro
Presiding Member of the Provisional Executive Ministry of the Colombia
In office
February 9, 1863 – May 14, 1863
Preceded byProvisionary Office*
Succeeded byProvisionary Office*
Vice President of the Rionegro Convention
In office
February 4, 1863 – May 8, 1863
PresidentFrancisco Javier Zaldúa
ConstituencyFederal District
35th President of the Sovereign State of Cundinamarca
In office
January 1, 1874 – December 31, 1875
Preceded byJulio Barriga V.
Succeeded byJacobo Sánchez
21st President of the Sovereign State of Santander
In office
October 1, 1868 – March 14, 1870
Preceded byNarciso Cadena Uribe
Succeeded byNarciso Cadena Uribe
16th President of the Sovereign State of Santander
In office
August 11, 1861 – June 6, 1864
Preceded byPedro Quintero Jácome
Succeeded byRafael Otero Navarro
7th President of the Sovereign State of Santander
In office
April 3, 1859 – November 23, 1859
Preceded byEvaristo Azuero
Succeeded byUlpiano Valenzuela
Personal details
Born
Eustorgio Salgar Moreno

(1831-11-01)November 1, 1831
Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Republic of New Granada
DiedNovember 25, 1885(1885-11-25) (aged 54)
Bogotá, Cundinamarca, United States of Colombia
NationalityColombian
Political partyLiberal
SpouseSinforosa Florez Mateus
RelationsConsuelo Salgar de Montejo
Alma materNational University of Colombia
OccupationSoldier (General), politician
ProfessionJurisprudence

Biographic data edit

Salgar was born in Bogotá, Cundinamarca, on November 1, 1831.[2] He died in the same city, on November 25, 1885.[3]

 
Presidential Canvas. Eustorgio Salgar. Private Collection Montejo Family.

Early life edit

Salgar attended what later became the National University of Colombia, where he studied jurisprudence. In 1851, at the age of 20, he obtained his law degree.[2]

Political career edit

From 1853, he was the governor of the Garcia Rovira province and, when it was merged with Pamplona in 1855, he assumed the new role of governor of the newly combined province until 1858. During that year, Salgar was a member of the briefly lived Granadine Confederation's senate and a year later became governor of the Sovereign State of Santander.

Military career edit

In 1859, Salgar enlisted in the army of General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera during the liberal uprising and the war against President Mariano Ospina Rodríguez. Salgar was captured in combat and tried for the insurgency. He was incarcerated until March 31, 1861, when General Mosquera took Bogotá.[2]

Diplomatic career edit

Following his term as president, Salgar was appointed as ambassador to the United States of America until 1867.

The presidency edit

During the presidential election of 1870, the radical wing of the liberal party nominated Salgar as its candidate. The historical wing of the liberal party nominated General Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera. Salgar obtained the majority of the popular vote and was elected president for the two-years term. He was inaugurated on April 1, 1870.[4] During his brief presidency, he founded and promoted the country's first railway company and the first corporation intended to provide social security.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ "Listado cronológico de los Presidentes de Colombia". 2009-06-27. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  2. ^ a b c d Arismendi Posada, Ignacio (1983). Gobernantes Colombianos [Colombian presidents] (in Spanish) (Second ed.). Bogotá, Colombia: Interprint Editors Ltd. Italgraf. p. 91.
  3. ^ Arismendi Posada, Ignacio (1983). Gobernantes Colombianos [Colombian presidents] (in Spanish) (Second ed.). Bogotá, Colombia: Interprint Editors Ltd. Italgraf. p. 95.
  4. ^ Arismendi Posada, Ignacio (1983). Gobernantes Colombianos [Colombian presidents] (in Spanish) (Second ed.). Bogotá, Colombia: Interprint Editors Ltd. Italgraf. p. 92.