António Pinto Soares
Encyclopedia
António Pinto Soares was Head of State of Costa Rica
from September 11 to September 27, 1842.
He led the popular uprising that overthrew Francisco Morazán
on September 11, 1842, and served as Head of State
until September 27, when he peacefully handled power to José María Alfaro.
, Portugal
sometime in 1780 to wealthy parents by the names of Alexandre Pinto and María Custodia Soares. He was a marine merchant and settled in Costa Rica
circa 1810. He married María del Rosario Castro Ramírez (17921882) on April 26, 1813 in San José
. She was daughter of Francisco Castro y Alvarado and María de la Trinidad Ramírez y Ulloa. From this marriage he had fifteen children: José Dolores, Fernando, Mercedes, José Antonio
, Baltazar, Petronila, José Antonio Raimundo, Francisca, Liborio, José Concepción
, Jesús, Francisco, José, Manuel, and Remigio (all by the surnames of Pinto Castro).
had peaked and the country was on the brink of a war with Nicaragua
, Pinto led a popular uprising to overthrow him. He became Head of State on September 11, 1842, but he did not desire this power and peacefully conceded to José María Alfaro Zamora
who was elected as Temporary Head of State by a collection of nobles from the different cities in the country.
During his brief administration he restored relations with the rest of Central America which had been broken with Morazán's rise to power and had even led to an alliance by them against his administration. The government of El Salvador
granted him the rank of Division General.
He had great difficulties with the Juan Rafael Mora Porras
administration, which in 1851 accused him of plotting against the government. This led to a criminal case being opened against him and his son Liborio but this was interrupted shortly after.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
from September 11 to September 27, 1842.
He led the popular uprising that overthrew Francisco Morazán
Francisco Morazán
General Francisco Morazán was a Honduran general and a politician who ruled several Central American states at different times during the turbulent period from 1827 to 1842. He rose to prominence at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on November 11, 1827...
on September 11, 1842, and served as Head of State
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
until September 27, when he peacefully handled power to José María Alfaro.
Early life and family
Born in PortoPorto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
sometime in 1780 to wealthy parents by the names of Alexandre Pinto and María Custodia Soares. He was a marine merchant and settled in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
circa 1810. He married María del Rosario Castro Ramírez (17921882) on April 26, 1813 in San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
. She was daughter of Francisco Castro y Alvarado and María de la Trinidad Ramírez y Ulloa. From this marriage he had fifteen children: José Dolores, Fernando, Mercedes, José Antonio
José Antonio Pinto Castro
José Antonio Pinto Castro was a Costa Rican politician, son of General Antonio Pinto Soares and María del Rosario Castro Ramírez...
, Baltazar, Petronila, José Antonio Raimundo, Francisca, Liborio, José Concepción
José Concepción Pinto y Castro
José Concepción Pinto Castro was a Costa Rican politician.His parents were General Antonio Pinto Soares and María del Rosario Castro y Ramírez...
, Jesús, Francisco, José, Manuel, and Remigio (all by the surnames of Pinto Castro).
Public and private activities
He dedicated himself to sea trade, coffee agriculture, and commerce although he also served in the military and earned the rank of General. He commanded the Republican artillery units during the 1823 Battle of Ochomogo, served as Costa Rica's Commandant of Artillery, Prosecutor for the 1823 Special Tribunals, Second in Command of the Provincial Battalion for the Disciplined Militias, General Internal Commandant and lastly General Arms Commandant. He also aided the government during the 1835 Civil War before retiring from military service. After this he served as mayor of San José for several terms.Head of State
On September 1842, when discontent with Francisco MorazánFrancisco Morazán
General Francisco Morazán was a Honduran general and a politician who ruled several Central American states at different times during the turbulent period from 1827 to 1842. He rose to prominence at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on November 11, 1827...
had peaked and the country was on the brink of a war with Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, Pinto led a popular uprising to overthrow him. He became Head of State on September 11, 1842, but he did not desire this power and peacefully conceded to José María Alfaro Zamora
José María Alfaro Zamora
José María Alfaro Zamora was the Costa Rican Head of State between the periods of 1842 and 1844 as well as 1846 and 1847 and President of Costa Rica between May 1 and May 8, 1847- Early life and family :...
who was elected as Temporary Head of State by a collection of nobles from the different cities in the country.
During his brief administration he restored relations with the rest of Central America which had been broken with Morazán's rise to power and had even led to an alliance by them against his administration. The government of El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
granted him the rank of Division General.
Later achievements
From September 1842 to April 1844 he once again served as General Arms Commandant.He had great difficulties with the Juan Rafael Mora Porras
Juan Rafael Mora Porras
Juan Rafael Mora Porras was President of Costa Rica from 1849 to 1859.He first assumed the presidency following José María Castro's resignation and was subsequently reelected in 1853 and 1859....
administration, which in 1851 accused him of plotting against the government. This led to a criminal case being opened against him and his son Liborio but this was interrupted shortly after.
Source
- Obregón Quesada, Clotilde, "Nuestros gobernantes".