Enrique Olaya Herrera
Encyclopedia
Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera (November 12, 1880–February 18, 1937) was a Colombia
n journalist
and politician
, President of Colombia
from August 7, 1930 until August 7, 1934 representing the Colombian Liberal Party
.
. He studied in the local public school of Guateque
along his parents. He was son of Justiniano Olaya and Emperatriz Herrera Olaya Herrera had two brothers; Leonidas and Joaquín. When he was 12 years old, Olaya Herrera was regarded as the "child journalist of Guateque" because he founded a newspaper called "El Patriota" (The Patriot) and with he obtained many exchange notes with major newspapers like El Espectador
based in Medellín
. Olaya Herrera studied Law in the Republicana University and founded a weekly magazine called "El Estudiante" (The Student) in a newspaper format and which was written by hand.
, Laureano Gómez
, Eduardo Santos
, Mariano Ospina Pérez
, Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
, Luis López de Mesa
, Luis Eduardo Nieto Caballero and others.
During the "Regeneration" period, Olaya Herrera attacked it as he became a journalist for the newspaper "El Autonomista" (The Autonomist) which was owned by Rafael Uribe Uribe
and Ricardo Tirado Macias. Back in his hometown of Guateque Olaya Herrera maintained a newspaper called "El Soldado Cubano" (The Cuban Soldier) in which he showed his admiration for José Martí
.
The bipartisan political convulsion between the Liberal Party
and the Conservative Party
had escalated and provoked the thousand days civil war
. Most of the centennial generation was pushed into the war to follow their political beliefs. Olaya Herrera was also pushed into active participation in politics along the Liberal Party. Olaya Herrera radicalized and joined the armed liberal militias led by General Cenón Figueredo. Olaya Herrera participated in a confrontation in the village of Nocaima
, Cundinamarca
.
After the war Olaya Herrera continued studying Law and finally graduated with a thesis named "La Liberacion Condicional" (The Conditional Freedom) and was published by the University. In 1904 he obtained a doctorate in jurisprudence and in 1906 he traveled to Belgium where he studied diplomacy and sociology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
focusing on diplomacy, politics and journalism.
criticizing the treaties between the United States, Colombia and the loss of Panama
. On March 13, 1909 Olaya Herrera publicly made a speech during a Liberal Party event in which he officially participated along with Nicolás Esguerra, José Vicente Concha
and Miguel Abadía Méndez
in a movement called "Trecemarcismo" from "13 de Marzo" (March the 13th). After President Reyes resignation on March 16, 1909 Olaya Herrera postulated himself for the Constituent Assembly and was later elected. He helped reform the Colombian Constitution of 1886
representing the Quesada Department. Among his party members participating were Rafael Uribe Uribe
, Benjamín Herrera, Gabriel Vargas Santos, Nicolás Esguerra, Tomás O. Eastman, Carmelo Arango and Tomás Quevedo Álvarez. The conservatives had deputies Carlos E. Restrepo, José Vicente Concha
, Pedro Nel Ospina
, Guillermo Valencia
, Emilio Forero, Hernando Holguín, Abel Carbonell, Pedro M. Carreño and Guillermo Quintero Calderón. Both sides concluded the constitutional reform and initiated a period of reconciliation, political tolerance and a sense of nationalism. Carlos Eugenio Restrepo
assumed the presidency of Colombia from 1910 until 1914 sponsored by the Republican Party which Olaya Herrera supported.
President Restrepo appointed Olaya Herrera as the first Minister of Foreign Relations on August 7, 1910 until his resignation on November 23, 1911. During the administration of President Jorge Holguín
, Olaya Herrera was appointed to the same office from 1921 until January 4, 1922 for who he also served as Minister of Agriculture. During the 1920s Olaya Herrera served also as a diplomat (mainly improving Colombian relations with the United States) and with the Colombian congress.
as presidential candidate after a group of liberal and conservative friends registered him in the candidates list on January 22, 1930 in the town of Puerto Berrío
. Olaya Herrera named his political movement "Concentracion Nacional" (National Concentration).
Olaya Herra was elected on February 9, 1930 with 369,962 votes against the other candidates Guillermo Valencia
with 213,417 votes and Alfredo Vázquez Cobo with 213,417 votes. Former conservative president Carlos Eugenio Restrepo
adhered to Olaya Herrera among other light conservatives.
, but his party members gradually pushed them out of office.
Olaya Herrera was given special faculties and dictated some economic reforms that developed at some level the industry and manage the debt generated by the war with Peru
which originated in 1932 when the Amazonian port of Leticia was taken over by invading Peruvian soldiers. Previously, during the presidence of Jorge Holguin
, the Salomón–Lozano Treaty which defined the Peru-Colombia border was signed under secrecy. Once the treaty surfaced to the public in Peru, it became unpopular and a group of Peruvian citizens took the town of Leticia, which was colonized by both Peruvians and Colombians, that the treaty had awarded Colombia. General Alfredo Vázquez Cobo was entrusted by Olaya Herrera to lead the armed operations in southern Colombia. The war was financed by the government and the solidarity of the citizens, who donated jewelry and money to support the cause. After many battles the war ended with the signing of the Rio Protocol
in 1934, which upheld the Salomón–Lozano Treaty and officially ended the border conflicts between Colombia and Peru.
and Buenaventura
) and railroads. He also supported public education and the exploration and exploitation of energy natural resources such as oil, mainly in the northern region of Catatumbo.
Olaya Herrera also tried to improve the association between guild
s, for that he created a Bank of Agrarian Credit , the Mortgage Central Bank to finance low income housing and for the improvement of production and exporting of Coffee products the government of Olaya Herrera also created the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. He also helped introduce labor law reforms.
and Santander
initially motivated by political reasons. The town with most problems were Chiquinquirá
, the towns of western Boyaca, the Garcia Rovira Province in Santander Department
and some towns in the areas of Norte de Santander Department were conservative public employees resisted being in charge of liberals until the end of his government on August 7, 1934.
and later appointed ambassador of Colombia to the State of the Vatican City in Rome, Italy
where he died on February 18, 1937 serving. He was planning to run for a presidential reelection upon his return to Colombia.
Olaya Herrera married María Teresa Londoño Sáenz in 1911 and had two daughters; Maria and Lucia.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, President of Colombia
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
from August 7, 1930 until August 7, 1934 representing the Colombian Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
.
Early years
Olaya Herrera grew up in an intellectual environment full of inconformism and erudism and had to live in through the Thousand Days WarThousand Days War
The Thousand Days' War , was a civil armed conflict in the newly created Republic of Colombia, between the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and its radical factions. In 1899 the ruling conservatives were accused of maintaining power through fraudulent elections...
. He studied in the local public school of Guateque
Guateque
Guateque is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Eastern Boyacá Province.-Famous people from Guateque:* Former President of Colombia Enrique Olaya Herrera....
along his parents. He was son of Justiniano Olaya and Emperatriz Herrera Olaya Herrera had two brothers; Leonidas and Joaquín. When he was 12 years old, Olaya Herrera was regarded as the "child journalist of Guateque" because he founded a newspaper called "El Patriota" (The Patriot) and with he obtained many exchange notes with major newspapers like El Espectador
El Espectador
El Espectador is a newspaper with national circulation within Colombia, founded by Fidel Cano Gutiérrez on 22 March 1887 in Medellín and published since 1915 in Bogotá...
based in Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
. Olaya Herrera studied Law in the Republicana University and founded a weekly magazine called "El Estudiante" (The Student) in a newspaper format and which was written by hand.
Political career
Olaya Herrera is a member of the "Centennial Generation" which date from 1925 to 1940 and grouped a bunch of ideologues and leaders in which were notable Alfonso López PumarejoAlfonso López Pumarejo
Alfonso López Pumarejo was a two-time Colombian president and political figure, as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party. He served as president of Colombia for the first time between 1934 and 1938 and again between 1942 and 1945....
, Laureano Gómez
Laureano Gómez
Laureano Eleuterio Gómez Castro was President of Colombia from 1950 to 1953, and long time leader of the Colombian Conservative Party.-Pre-election:...
, Eduardo Santos
Eduardo Santos
Eduardo Santos Montejo was a leading Colombian publisher and politician, active in the Colombian Liberal Party. He owned the prominent Bogotá newspaper El Tiempo, and served as the President of Colombia from August 1938 to August 1942.Santos was close friends with the Venezuelan Ambassador in...
, Mariano Ospina Pérez
Mariano Ospina Pérez
Luis Mariano Ospina Pérez was a Colombian engineer and political figure, member of the Colombian Conservative Party. He served as President of Colombia between 1946 and 1950.- Biographic data :...
, Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez was a Colombian Conservative party politician who served as President of Colombia from November 1951 until June 1953, while President Laureano Gómez was absent due to health issues.- Biographic data :...
, Luis López de Mesa
Luis López de Mesa
Luis López de Mesa Gómez was Colombian medical doctor, and Harvard psychiatrist, Dean of the National University of Colombia, and Minister of National Education, and Foreign Affairs....
, Luis Eduardo Nieto Caballero and others.
During the "Regeneration" period, Olaya Herrera attacked it as he became a journalist for the newspaper "El Autonomista" (The Autonomist) which was owned by Rafael Uribe Uribe
Rafael Uribe Uribe
Rafael Uribe Uribe was a Colombian lawyer, journalist, and general in the liberal party rebel army.-Early years:...
and Ricardo Tirado Macias. Back in his hometown of Guateque Olaya Herrera maintained a newspaper called "El Soldado Cubano" (The Cuban Soldier) in which he showed his admiration for José Martí
José Martí
José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...
.
The bipartisan political convulsion between the Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
and the Conservative Party
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
had escalated and provoked the thousand days civil war
Thousand Days War
The Thousand Days' War , was a civil armed conflict in the newly created Republic of Colombia, between the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and its radical factions. In 1899 the ruling conservatives were accused of maintaining power through fraudulent elections...
. Most of the centennial generation was pushed into the war to follow their political beliefs. Olaya Herrera was also pushed into active participation in politics along the Liberal Party. Olaya Herrera radicalized and joined the armed liberal militias led by General Cenón Figueredo. Olaya Herrera participated in a confrontation in the village of Nocaima
Nocaima
Nocaima is a municipality and town of Colombia in the department of Cundinamarca. It is the oldest settlement in Colombia, and therefore of historical significance...
, Cundinamarca
Cundinamarca Department
- Origin of the name :The name of Cundinamarca comes from Kundur marqa, an indigenous expression, probably derived from Quechua. Meaning "Condor's Nest", it was used in pre-Columbian times by the natives of the Magdalena Valley to refer to the nearby highlands....
.
After the war Olaya Herrera continued studying Law and finally graduated with a thesis named "La Liberacion Condicional" (The Conditional Freedom) and was published by the University. In 1904 he obtained a doctorate in jurisprudence and in 1906 he traveled to Belgium where he studied diplomacy and sociology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
focusing on diplomacy, politics and journalism.
Politics and constitutional reform
Upon his return from Belgium, Olaya Herrera joined the cause against the government of General Rafael ReyesRafael Reyes
Rafael Reyes Prieto was Chief of Staff of the Colombian National Army and President of Colombia .- Biographic data :...
criticizing the treaties between the United States, Colombia and the loss of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. On March 13, 1909 Olaya Herrera publicly made a speech during a Liberal Party event in which he officially participated along with Nicolás Esguerra, José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha was a Colombian politician who served as President of Colombia from 1914-1918. He was also a noted member of the Colombian Conservative Party.- Biographic data :...
and Miguel Abadía Méndez
Miguel Abadía Méndez
Miguel Abadía Méndez was the 17th President of Colombia . A Conservative party politician, Abadía was the last president of the period known as the Conservative Hegemony, running unopposed and forming a one party Cabinet.- Political career :Abadía, as a young lawyer, was a professor and MP...
in a movement called "Trecemarcismo" from "13 de Marzo" (March the 13th). After President Reyes resignation on March 16, 1909 Olaya Herrera postulated himself for the Constituent Assembly and was later elected. He helped reform the Colombian Constitution of 1886
Colombian Constitution of 1886
The Colombian Constitution of 1886 was the constitution that created the Republic of Colombia. Before 1886, the country was called United States of Colombia. The coalition of moderate Liberals and Conservatives that ended the liberal hegemony and placed Rafael Nuñez in power repealed the...
representing the Quesada Department. Among his party members participating were Rafael Uribe Uribe
Rafael Uribe Uribe
Rafael Uribe Uribe was a Colombian lawyer, journalist, and general in the liberal party rebel army.-Early years:...
, Benjamín Herrera, Gabriel Vargas Santos, Nicolás Esguerra, Tomás O. Eastman, Carmelo Arango and Tomás Quevedo Álvarez. The conservatives had deputies Carlos E. Restrepo, José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha
José Vicente Concha was a Colombian politician who served as President of Colombia from 1914-1918. He was also a noted member of the Colombian Conservative Party.- Biographic data :...
, Pedro Nel Ospina
Pedro Nel Ospina
Pedro Nel Ospina Vázquez was a Colombian general and political figure. He served as president of Colombia between 1922 and 1926.- Biography:...
, Guillermo Valencia
Guillermo Valencia
Guillermo Valencia Castillo was a Colombian poet and translator. He was the father of Guillermo León Valencia , Colombian president during 1962-1966....
, Emilio Forero, Hernando Holguín, Abel Carbonell, Pedro M. Carreño and Guillermo Quintero Calderón. Both sides concluded the constitutional reform and initiated a period of reconciliation, political tolerance and a sense of nationalism. Carlos Eugenio Restrepo
Carlos Eugenio Restrepo
For the President of Colombia from 1966 to 1970, see Carlos Lleras RestrepoCarlos Eugenio Restrepo Restrepo was a Colombian lawyer, writer, and statesman, who was elected President of Colombia in 1910. During his administration he worked towards making political reconciliation among the...
assumed the presidency of Colombia from 1910 until 1914 sponsored by the Republican Party which Olaya Herrera supported.
President Restrepo appointed Olaya Herrera as the first Minister of Foreign Relations on August 7, 1910 until his resignation on November 23, 1911. During the administration of President Jorge Holguín
Jorge Holguín
Jorge Marcelo Holguín Mallarino was a Colombian politician and military officer, two time Acting President of Colombia for the periods between June, 1909 to August of the same year as interim president, and from November, 1921 to August, 1922...
, Olaya Herrera was appointed to the same office from 1921 until January 4, 1922 for who he also served as Minister of Agriculture. During the 1920s Olaya Herrera served also as a diplomat (mainly improving Colombian relations with the United States) and with the Colombian congress.
Presidential candidate
During the 1930s the Liberal leadership considered Olaya Herrera as the most suitable leader to recover the presidency from the Regeneration Movement hegemony. He was appointed by the Liberal party in BogotáBogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
as presidential candidate after a group of liberal and conservative friends registered him in the candidates list on January 22, 1930 in the town of Puerto Berrío
Puerto Berrío
Puerto Berrío is a municipality and town in the Colombian department of Antioquia.-Geography:Puerto Berrío is located in a region of Antioquia known as the Middle Magdalena...
. Olaya Herrera named his political movement "Concentracion Nacional" (National Concentration).
Olaya Herra was elected on February 9, 1930 with 369,962 votes against the other candidates Guillermo Valencia
Guillermo Valencia
Guillermo Valencia Castillo was a Colombian poet and translator. He was the father of Guillermo León Valencia , Colombian president during 1962-1966....
with 213,417 votes and Alfredo Vázquez Cobo with 213,417 votes. Former conservative president Carlos Eugenio Restrepo
Carlos Eugenio Restrepo
For the President of Colombia from 1966 to 1970, see Carlos Lleras RestrepoCarlos Eugenio Restrepo Restrepo was a Colombian lawyer, writer, and statesman, who was elected President of Colombia in 1910. During his administration he worked towards making political reconciliation among the...
adhered to Olaya Herrera among other light conservatives.
Presidency
Olaya Herrera began a concertation government giving half of his government public offices (mainly ministries and department governments) to the opposition party led by Laureano GómezLaureano Gómez
Laureano Eleuterio Gómez Castro was President of Colombia from 1950 to 1953, and long time leader of the Colombian Conservative Party.-Pre-election:...
, but his party members gradually pushed them out of office.
Economic crisis and War with Peru
After the Wall Street Crash of 1929Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
Olaya Herrera was given special faculties and dictated some economic reforms that developed at some level the industry and manage the debt generated by the war with Peru
Colombia-Peru War
The Colombia–Peru War was an armed conflict between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru.-Civilian takeover:...
which originated in 1932 when the Amazonian port of Leticia was taken over by invading Peruvian soldiers. Previously, during the presidence of Jorge Holguin
Jorge Holguín
Jorge Marcelo Holguín Mallarino was a Colombian politician and military officer, two time Acting President of Colombia for the periods between June, 1909 to August of the same year as interim president, and from November, 1921 to August, 1922...
, the Salomón–Lozano Treaty which defined the Peru-Colombia border was signed under secrecy. Once the treaty surfaced to the public in Peru, it became unpopular and a group of Peruvian citizens took the town of Leticia, which was colonized by both Peruvians and Colombians, that the treaty had awarded Colombia. General Alfredo Vázquez Cobo was entrusted by Olaya Herrera to lead the armed operations in southern Colombia. The war was financed by the government and the solidarity of the citizens, who donated jewelry and money to support the cause. After many battles the war ended with the signing of the Rio Protocol
Rio Protocol
The Protocol of Peace, Friendship, and Boundaries between Peru and Ecuador, or Rio Protocol for short, was an international agreement signed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 29, 1942, by the foreign ministers of Peru and Ecuador, with the participation of the United States, Brazil, Chile, and...
in 1934, which upheld the Salomón–Lozano Treaty and officially ended the border conflicts between Colombia and Peru.
Public works
During his government Olaya Herrera tried to develop the Colombian national industry and for this he supported many infrastructure projects mainly highways, maritime and fluvial ports (BarranquillaBarranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
and Buenaventura
Buenaventura, Colombia
Buenaventura is a port city and municipality located in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia . Buenaventura is the main port of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean....
) and railroads. He also supported public education and the exploration and exploitation of energy natural resources such as oil, mainly in the northern region of Catatumbo.
Olaya Herrera also tried to improve the association between guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
s, for that he created a Bank of Agrarian Credit , the Mortgage Central Bank to finance low income housing and for the improvement of production and exporting of Coffee products the government of Olaya Herrera also created the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. He also helped introduce labor law reforms.
Public order issues
During the first two years as president there were two main focus of violence in the country; in BoyacaBoyacá Department
Boyacá is one of the 32 Departments of Colombia, and the remnant of one of the original nine states of the "United States of Colombia".Boyacá is centrally located within Colombia, almost entirely within the mountains of the Eastern Cordillera to the border with Venezuela, although the western end...
and Santander
Santander Department
Santander is a department of Colombia. Santander inherited the name of one of the nine original states of the United States of Colombia. It is located in the central northern part of the country, east of the Magdalena River, bordered to the south and southeast by Boyacá, to the northeast by Norte...
initially motivated by political reasons. The town with most problems were Chiquinquirá
Chiquinquirá
Chiquinquirá is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Western Boyacá Province. Located some 115 km north of Bogotá, Chiquinquirá is 2570m above sea level and has a yearly average temperature 58°F....
, the towns of western Boyaca, the Garcia Rovira Province in Santander Department
Santander Department
Santander is a department of Colombia. Santander inherited the name of one of the nine original states of the United States of Colombia. It is located in the central northern part of the country, east of the Magdalena River, bordered to the south and southeast by Boyacá, to the northeast by Norte...
and some towns in the areas of Norte de Santander Department were conservative public employees resisted being in charge of liberals until the end of his government on August 7, 1934.
Post-government and death
After finishing his term as president in 1935 Olaya Herrera was appointed Minister of Foreign Relations during the government of Alfonso López PumarejoAlfonso López Pumarejo
Alfonso López Pumarejo was a two-time Colombian president and political figure, as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party. He served as president of Colombia for the first time between 1934 and 1938 and again between 1942 and 1945....
and later appointed ambassador of Colombia to the State of the Vatican City in Rome, Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
where he died on February 18, 1937 serving. He was planning to run for a presidential reelection upon his return to Colombia.
Personal life