Facundo Machaín
Encyclopedia
Facundo Machaín was President of Paraguay. His period of government was short but very important for the political situation of the country at the time.
, on November 26, 1845. He studied in Chile
, in the Universidad Central where he graduated from Law School. His professor was the Argentine Andrés Bello
. He had 25 years when he was elected President. His parents were José Serapio Machaín y Zavala and Clara Recalde y Machaín. He married Clara Recalde, but had no children.
He had several siblings: Esteban, León, Raymundo (who married his widow), Josefa (married with Federico Zorraquín), Francisca (married with Alberto Robinson), Emilia and Serapio Machaín. Facundo was one of the first Paraguayans that spoke in a public square to the people and managed to captivate the audience with his strong personality, his youth and culture. According to the biography written by José Segundo Decoud, Facundo had quality was a good speaker but had difficulties with writing.
He was murdered at the age of 32 in his own cell prison by the henchmen that guarded him, in the episode of the massacre in the public jail on October 29, 1877. His death caused great sadness in the Paraguayan society. It was said that with it, the Paraguayan writing lost a great professor.
There’s a street in Paraguay is named after him. It is located in the neighborhood Mariscal Estigarribia, in Asunción
.
also did the same. Because of this, Antonio Rivarola
was ceased in his duties by the National Assembly. When the Assembly declared finished the government of the Triumvirate and established the provisional presidency of the republic, Machaín was designated by 37 votes against 5 to hold that position. He took on the position on August 31, 1870, he vowed that day: “I swear before God and the Country, to fulfill truthfully my duties as President and all the dispositions of the Sovereign Constituent Convention”. He was important part in the works toward the reorganization of the Republic. But only 12 hours after, a complot planned by Cirilo Antonio Rivarola
, with the help of some allied forces, overthrow his government on September 1, 1870. That same night, Rivarola re-established himself in charge of the government, being legitimized by the National Assembly. His Vice-President was Cayo Miltos
, who later died and was replaced by Salvador Jovellanos
. This way happened the first coup in Paraguay after the war.
, after he moved to Chile
where he studied Law. He returned to the Paraguay
after the War of the Triple Alliance
.
He was designated member of the Supreme Court of Justice in 1872 and, during the government of President Juan Bautista Gill
, he was National Chancellor, position in which he made a brilliant job, specially in the defense of the Paraguayan rights over the Chaco
territory. He was President of the “Gran Club del Pueblo” and member of the National Assembly. On August 27, the Convention designated him member of the commission in charge of writing the Constitution project, in which he intervened and stood out as the best speaker of the Assembly.
In 1876, after the War of the Triple Alliance
he participated, along with the Argentine Chancellor Bernardo de Irigoyen
, in the Limits Agreement, later called the Machaín-Yrigoyen Treaty.
He worked as a journalist and was professor and the first director of the Colegio Nacional de Asunción (Asunción’s National School), which building was demolished later. From that building he watched the bloody episode of the murder of President Juan Bautista Gill
. When hearing the first shooting he went out to one of the balconies that opened to the Libertad Street (nowadays called Eligio Ayala
) shouting: “The President is being killed”.
In 1877 he was present in the defense of the accused for the murder of President Gill. Political situations made him a victim of political passions. He was imprisoned and occupied the same cell as his defendants, among them there was Commander José Dolores Molas.
His life
Facundo Machaín Recalde was a lawyer and politician. He was born in AsunciónAsunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, on November 26, 1845. He studied in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, in the Universidad Central where he graduated from Law School. His professor was the Argentine Andrés Bello
Andrés Bello
Andrés de Jesús María y José Bello López was a Venezuelan humanist, poet, lawmaker, philosopher, educator and philologist, whose political and literary works constitute an important part of Spanish American culture...
. He had 25 years when he was elected President. His parents were José Serapio Machaín y Zavala and Clara Recalde y Machaín. He married Clara Recalde, but had no children.
He had several siblings: Esteban, León, Raymundo (who married his widow), Josefa (married with Federico Zorraquín), Francisca (married with Alberto Robinson), Emilia and Serapio Machaín. Facundo was one of the first Paraguayans that spoke in a public square to the people and managed to captivate the audience with his strong personality, his youth and culture. According to the biography written by José Segundo Decoud, Facundo had quality was a good speaker but had difficulties with writing.
He was murdered at the age of 32 in his own cell prison by the henchmen that guarded him, in the episode of the massacre in the public jail on October 29, 1877. His death caused great sadness in the Paraguayan society. It was said that with it, the Paraguayan writing lost a great professor.
There’s a street in Paraguay is named after him. It is located in the neighborhood Mariscal Estigarribia, in Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
.
Government
The government of the Triumvirate had a short existence. In May 1870 one of the members resigned, José Díaz de Bedoya and on August 31, 1870 Carlos LoizagaCarlos Loizaga
Carlos Loizaga was member in Paraguayan Triumvirate following death of Francisco Solano López from 1 March 1870 to 10 December 1870....
also did the same. Because of this, Antonio Rivarola
Cirilo Antonio Rivarola
Cirilo Antonio Rivarola Acosta was President of Paraguay March 1, 1870 - December 10, 1871. Before and during the War of the Triple Alliance, Rivarola was an opponent of dictator Francisco Solano López...
was ceased in his duties by the National Assembly. When the Assembly declared finished the government of the Triumvirate and established the provisional presidency of the republic, Machaín was designated by 37 votes against 5 to hold that position. He took on the position on August 31, 1870, he vowed that day: “I swear before God and the Country, to fulfill truthfully my duties as President and all the dispositions of the Sovereign Constituent Convention”. He was important part in the works toward the reorganization of the Republic. But only 12 hours after, a complot planned by Cirilo Antonio Rivarola
Cirilo Antonio Rivarola
Cirilo Antonio Rivarola Acosta was President of Paraguay March 1, 1870 - December 10, 1871. Before and during the War of the Triple Alliance, Rivarola was an opponent of dictator Francisco Solano López...
, with the help of some allied forces, overthrow his government on September 1, 1870. That same night, Rivarola re-established himself in charge of the government, being legitimized by the National Assembly. His Vice-President was Cayo Miltos
Cayo Miltos
Cayo Doroteo Miltos was a Paraguayan politician.He studied in universities in Argentina and Sorbonne. He returned to Paraguay in 1869 and was a political ally of Facundo Machaín and Juan Antonio Jara...
, who later died and was replaced by Salvador Jovellanos
Salvador Jovellanos
Salvador Silvester del Rosario Jovellanos Guanes was Paraguayan politician.He served as Vice President from 1870 to 1871 and President from December 18, 1871 - November 25, 1874...
. This way happened the first coup in Paraguay after the war.
Studies and Career
He did his first studies in AsunciónAsunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, after he moved to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
where he studied Law. He returned to the Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
after the War of the Triple Alliance
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
.
He was designated member of the Supreme Court of Justice in 1872 and, during the government of President Juan Bautista Gill
Juan Bautista Gill
Juan Bautista Gill García was President of Paraguay from November 25, 1874 to April 12, 1877.Juan Bautista Gill Garcia del Barrio was born in Asunción. In 1854 he traveled to Buenos Aires where he did his secondary education and medical training, which he failed to finish. His parents were Juan...
, he was National Chancellor, position in which he made a brilliant job, specially in the defense of the Paraguayan rights over the Chaco
Gran Chaco
The Gran Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semi-arid lowland region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it is connected with the Pantanal region...
territory. He was President of the “Gran Club del Pueblo” and member of the National Assembly. On August 27, the Convention designated him member of the commission in charge of writing the Constitution project, in which he intervened and stood out as the best speaker of the Assembly.
In 1876, after the War of the Triple Alliance
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
he participated, along with the Argentine Chancellor 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...
, in the Limits Agreement, later called the Machaín-Yrigoyen Treaty.
He worked as a journalist and was professor and the first director of the Colegio Nacional de Asunción (Asunción’s National School), which building was demolished later. From that building he watched the bloody episode of the murder of President Juan Bautista Gill
Juan Bautista Gill
Juan Bautista Gill García was President of Paraguay from November 25, 1874 to April 12, 1877.Juan Bautista Gill Garcia del Barrio was born in Asunción. In 1854 he traveled to Buenos Aires where he did his secondary education and medical training, which he failed to finish. His parents were Juan...
. When hearing the first shooting he went out to one of the balconies that opened to the Libertad Street (nowadays called Eligio Ayala
Eligio Ayala
José Eligio Ayala was President of Paraguay from 12 April 1923 to 17 March 1924 and again from 15 August 1924 until 15 August 1928. He was a member of the Liberal Party....
) shouting: “The President is being killed”.
In 1877 he was present in the defense of the accused for the murder of President Gill. Political situations made him a victim of political passions. He was imprisoned and occupied the same cell as his defendants, among them there was Commander José Dolores Molas.