Adolfo Saldías
Encyclopedia
Adolfo Saldías was an Argentine
historian
, lawyer
, politician
, soldier
and diplomat
.
Saldías received his law degree in 1875 and published a thesis on the subject of Civil matrimony. he started to participate in politics through the popular Autonomist Party of Buenos Aires, led by Adolfo Alsina
and confronting Bartolomé Mitre
, along with Aristóbulo del Valle
, Leandro Alem
and Bernardo de Irigoyen
, among other luminaries of the day with whom he would form the future Radical Civic Union
party.
He took an active part on the Revolution of the Park
and was one of the first to enter the Artillery Park, along with Leandro Alem, being arrested and exiled to Uruguay
. A founding member of the Radical Civic Union in 1891, he was again part of an armed insurrection in the Revolution of 1893, being arrested, incarcerated in Ushuaia
and again exiled to Uruguay
In 1898 he was named Minister of Public Works and in 1902 Vicegobernor of Buenos Aires Province
, following Bernardo de Irigoyen
.
He was an active freemason
. José María Rosa
and Fermín Chávez
recognize in Saldías the precursor of the revisionist school
of Argentine politics. He wrote works on the life of Juan Manuel de Rosas
and the Argentine Confederation, which earned him intellectual prestige and good sales income, and the favor of being considered as part of the Buenos Aires intellectual elite. In 1881 he published the first version of what in 1888 would be his master work, the Historia de la Confederación Argentina. With ingenuity, he dedicated it to Mitre and sent it to him for consideration. Mitre responded harshly, condemning the work, his conclusions and the author. The press of the day ignored the book, limiting its publication. As author, he was practically condemned to a civil death, as it was not even commented upon in the press, not even to criticize it.
In 1912 he travelled to Bolivia
as official envoy and ambassador, a post he maintained until his death.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Saldías received his law degree in 1875 and published a thesis on the subject of Civil matrimony. he started to participate in politics through the popular Autonomist Party of Buenos Aires, led by Adolfo Alsina
Adolfo Alsina
Adolfo Alsina Maza was an Argentine lawyer and Unitarian politician, and one of the founders of the Partido Autonomista and the National Autonomist Party.-Biography:...
and confronting Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre Martínez was an Argentine statesman, military figure, and author. He was the President of Argentina from 1862 to 1868.-Life and times:...
, along with Aristóbulo del Valle
Aristóbulo del Valle
Aristóbulo del Valle was a lawyer and politician born in Dolores, . He was, together with Leandro Alem, one of the founders of the Radical Civic Union....
, Leandro Alem
Leandro Alem
Leandro Nicéforo Alem was an Argentine politician, born in Buenos Aires, a founder and leader of the Radical Civic Union. Alem was the uncle and political teacher of Hipólito Yrigoyen. His father, was the chief of Rosas' political police, the Mazorca. He was executed after the battle of Caseros...
and Bernardo de Irigoyen
Bernardo de Irigoyen
Bernardo de Irigoyen was an Argentine lawyer, diplomat and politician.-Biography:Born in Buenos Aires, Irigoyen enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires and earned a juris doctor in 1843...
, among other luminaries of the day with whom he would form the future Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
party.
He took an active part on the Revolution of the Park
Revolution of the Park
The Revolution of the Park was an uprising against the national government of Argentina that took place on 26 July 1890 and started with the takeover of the Buenos Aires Artillery Park. It was led by members of the Civic Union against the presidency of Miguel Juárez Celman...
and was one of the first to enter the Artillery Park, along with Leandro Alem, being arrested and exiled to Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. A founding member of the Radical Civic Union in 1891, he was again part of an armed insurrection in the Revolution of 1893, being arrested, incarcerated in Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
and again exiled to Uruguay
In 1898 he was named Minister of Public Works and in 1902 Vicegobernor of Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
, following Bernardo de Irigoyen
Bernardo de Irigoyen
Bernardo de Irigoyen was an Argentine lawyer, diplomat and politician.-Biography:Born in Buenos Aires, Irigoyen enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires and earned a juris doctor in 1843...
.
He was an active freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. José María Rosa
José María Rosa
José María Rosa , also lnown as "Pepe Rosa", was an Argentine historian, one of the most notable of the Argentine nationalist revisionist historians.-Biography:...
and Fermín Chávez
Fermín Chávez
Fermín Chávez was an Argentine historian, poet and journalist, born in El Pueblito, a small town near Nogoyá, province of Entre Ríos...
recognize in Saldías the precursor of the revisionist school
Historical revisionism
In historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
of Argentine politics. He wrote works on the life of Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
and the Argentine Confederation, which earned him intellectual prestige and good sales income, and the favor of being considered as part of the Buenos Aires intellectual elite. In 1881 he published the first version of what in 1888 would be his master work, the Historia de la Confederación Argentina. With ingenuity, he dedicated it to Mitre and sent it to him for consideration. Mitre responded harshly, condemning the work, his conclusions and the author. The press of the day ignored the book, limiting its publication. As author, he was practically condemned to a civil death, as it was not even commented upon in the press, not even to criticize it.
In 1912 he travelled to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
as official envoy and ambassador, a post he maintained until his death.
Writings
- Ensayo sobre la historia de la Constitución Argentina, 1878
- Historia de Rosas later retitled Historia de la Confederación Argentina, 1881/1883
- Bianchietto, 1896
- La Evolución republicana durante la Revolución Argentina, 1906
- Papeles de Rozas, two volumes (1906–1907)
- La Idea del Simbolismo Masónico