Jorge Basadre
Encyclopedia
Jorge Basadre Grohmann was a Peru
vian historian
known for his extensive publications about the independent history of his country. He served during two different administrations as Minister of Education
and was also director of the Peruvian National Library
.
, Peru
, which was then under Chile
an occupation. He started his education in the Saint Rose Lyceum of Tacna in 1908 but changed to the German School of Lima
when his family moved to this city in 1912. He undertook his final year of secondary education at Our Lady of Guadalupe National School in 1918.
In 1919, Basadre entered the National University of San Marcos
where he graduated as a Ph.D.
in Humanities
in 1928 and in Law
in 1935. While studying, he also worked at the Peruvian National Library
from 1919 up to 1930. He undertook postgraduate studies in the United States, Germany and Spain between 1931 and 1935.
by president José Luis Bustamante y Rivero. He was elected to the presidency of the Instituto Histórico del Perú (Historic Institute of Peru) for the period 1956-1962. Peruvian president Manuel Prado Ugarteche
named him Minister of Education a second time in 1956, a post he held until his resignation in 1958.
in 1933. Basadre supplemented his History of the Republic with the publication of Introducción a las bases documentales para la Historia de la República del Perú in 1971 a thorough review of primary sources about the republican history of Peru.
at the age of 77. A Peruvian University is named after him, Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University
in Tacna
.
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian 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...
known for his extensive publications about the independent history of his country. He served during two different administrations as Minister of Education
Ministry of Education (Peru)
The Ministry of Education in Peru was created on February 4, 1837, in times of fervor caudillista and republican agitation of a country that arises to the independent life, don Andrés de Santa Cruz, Captain general and President of Bolivia, Big Pacifying Marshall of Peru, Supreme Protector of the...
and was also director of the Peruvian National Library
Biblioteca Nacional del Perú
The Biblioteca Nacional del Perú is the national library of Peru, located in Lima. It is the country's oldest and most important library. Like the majority of Peruvian libraries, it is a non-circulating library.- History :...
.
Early life
Jorge Basadre was born to Carlos Basadre Forero and Olga Grohmann Pividal in TacnaTacna
- Rail :Tacna is served by a cross-border standard gauge railway to Arica, Chile.It is also the location of the National Railway Museum of Peru.-Air:Tacna is served by the Crnl. FAP...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, which was then under 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...
an occupation. He started his education in the Saint Rose Lyceum of Tacna in 1908 but changed to the German School of Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
when his family moved to this city in 1912. He undertook his final year of secondary education at Our Lady of Guadalupe National School in 1918.
In 1919, Basadre entered the National University of San Marcos
National University of San Marcos
The National University of San Marcos is the most important and respected higher-education institution in Peru. Its main campus, the University City, is located in Lima...
where he graduated as a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
in 1928 and in Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in 1935. While studying, he also worked at the Peruvian National Library
Biblioteca Nacional del Perú
The Biblioteca Nacional del Perú is the national library of Peru, located in Lima. It is the country's oldest and most important library. Like the majority of Peruvian libraries, it is a non-circulating library.- History :...
from 1919 up to 1930. He undertook postgraduate studies in the United States, Germany and Spain between 1931 and 1935.
Public life
Back in Peru, Basadre became director of the Central Library at San Marcos University, which he reorganized between 1936 and 1942. After a fire in the Peruvian National Library on May 9, 1943, Basadre was named its director and put in charge of its reconstruction. His work here included rebuilding the book collection and organizing the publishing of the Library magazine, Fénix. For a short period in 1945 he was named Minister of EducationMinistry of Education (Peru)
The Ministry of Education in Peru was created on February 4, 1837, in times of fervor caudillista and republican agitation of a country that arises to the independent life, don Andrés de Santa Cruz, Captain general and President of Bolivia, Big Pacifying Marshall of Peru, Supreme Protector of the...
by president José Luis Bustamante y Rivero. He was elected to the presidency of the Instituto Histórico del Perú (Historic Institute of Peru) for the period 1956-1962. Peruvian president Manuel Prado Ugarteche
Manuel Prado Ugarteche
Manuel Prado y Ugarteche was a Peruvian banker and political figure. Son of former president, Mariano Ignacio Prado, he was born in Lima and served as the President of Peru twice, from 1939 until 1945 and again between 1956 and 1962...
named him Minister of Education a second time in 1956, a post he held until his resignation in 1958.
Publications
Basadre was a prolific writer; his numerous works on the history of Peru in the 19th and 20th centuries are still a benchmark for historians interested in this period. His publications include La multitud, la ciudad y el campo (1929), La iniciación de la República (1929-1930), Perú, problema y posibilidad (1931), La promesa de la vida peruana (1943), El conde de Lemos y su tiempo (1945), Chile, Perú y Bolivia independientes (1948), El azar en la historia y sus límites (1971), La vida y la historia (1975) and Elecciones y centralismo en el Perú (1980). However, his most important work is his Historia de la República (History of the Republic), first published as a single volume in 1939. It grew in size with every new edition until reaching sixteen volumes in the 6th edition of 1968. By that time it covered with rigorous detail Peruvian history from Independence in 1821 until the death of president Luis Miguel Sánchez CerroLuis Miguel Sánchez Cerro
Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro was a high-ranking Peruvian army officer and President of Peru from 1931 to 1933. On August 22, 1930, as a lieutenant-colonel, he overturned the eleven-year dictatorship of Augusto B...
in 1933. Basadre supplemented his History of the Republic with the publication of Introducción a las bases documentales para la Historia de la República del Perú in 1971 a thorough review of primary sources about the republican history of Peru.
Death
Jorge Basadre died on June 29, 1980, in the city of LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
at the age of 77. A Peruvian University is named after him, Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University
Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University
The Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University is a public university located in the city of Tacna, Peru. It was founded by Decree Law No. 1894 on August 26, 1971; academic activities started on May 13, 1972. The university is named after Jorge Basadre, a renowned Peruvian historian born in Tacna...
in Tacna
Tacna
- Rail :Tacna is served by a cross-border standard gauge railway to Arica, Chile.It is also the location of the National Railway Museum of Peru.-Air:Tacna is served by the Crnl. FAP...
.