José Ignacio García Hamilton
Encyclopedia
José Ignacio García Hamilton (1 November 194317 June 2009) was an Argentine
writer, noted historian, lawyer and politician. He was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
for the Radical Civic Union
representing Tucumán Province
.
in Legal and Social Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires
, where he later was a Professor of history and law. He worked as a columnist and Secretary General of La Gaceta
newspaper in Tucumán - which was owned by his family and edited by his father. He founded El Pueblo, a local newspaper, in 1972, and was named director of the Association of Provincial Newspapers; his brother, Eduardo, was also a prominent Tucumán journalist, serving as director of La Gaceta, and founder of Siglo XXI
. In the mid-1970s, in the final months of the Presidency of Isabel Martínez de Perón
, he was imprisoned by the government. He is a columnist for newspapers and magazines in Argentina, Uruguay
and the United States
.
In 1975, after his release from prison and exile to Buenos Aires, García Hamilton initiated his career as a lawyer and founded García Hamilton & Asociados law firm. The firm has grown since then to become an advisory firm providing legal, tax and finance advisory services (GHB Advisory), and is now run by his sons.
García Hamilton was the author of numerous books, including Hispano-American authoritarianism and unproductiveness (1990), and biographies of Juan Bautista Alberdi
, Life of an absentee (1993); Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
, Rowdy Cuyano (1997), and José de San Martín
, Don José (2000). Don José sold over 60,000 copies in Argentina. He won the Merit Diploma
from the Konex Foundation
for Life of an Absentee. He has presented several television programmes on Argentine history.
In 2006, he was deported from Cuba
without explanation. García Hamilton suggested that his ongoing interest in the subject of authoritarianism
in Latin American politics might have been responsible.
In 1991 García Hamilton ran as a candidate for vice-governor of Tucumán Province. In 2007 he was elected a national deputy for the province in support of the presidential bid of Roberto Lavagna
. He later spoke out against Lavagna's return to the Kirchnerist
fold.
He was vice-president of the interfaith NGO Casa Argentina en Jerusalem. In 2002, García Hamilton was awarded with the Sousa Mendes International Award, and in February 2010, the International Raoul Wallemberg Foundation issued a commemorative set of post stamps in his memory, to remember his dedication to interfaith dialogue and tolerance.
He was married to Graciela Gass, with whom he had six children.
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...
writer, noted historian, lawyer and politician. He was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
for the 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...
representing Tucumán Province
Tucumán Province
Tucumán is the most densely populated, and the smallest by land area, of the provinces of Argentina. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital is San Miguel de Tucumán, often shortened to Tucumán. Neighboring provinces are, clockwise from the north: Salta, Santiago del Estero and...
.
Biography
García Hamilton was born in San Miguel de Tucumán to Lucía Elena Aráoz and Enrique García Hamilton. He studied at the National University of Tucumán, graduating in 1969, and received his PhDPHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Legal and Social Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
, where he later was a Professor of history and law. He worked as a columnist and Secretary General of La Gaceta
La Gaceta (Tucumán)
La Gaceta is a daily newspaper founded in Tucumán, Argentina, and the most prominent in the Argentine Northwest.La Gaceta was established on August 4, 1912, by Alberto García Hamilton, an Uruguayan publisher who left for neighboring Argentina following a political dispute...
newspaper in Tucumán - which was owned by his family and edited by his father. He founded El Pueblo, a local newspaper, in 1972, and was named director of the Association of Provincial Newspapers; his brother, Eduardo, was also a prominent Tucumán journalist, serving as director of La Gaceta, and founder of Siglo XXI
Siglo XXI
Siglo XXI may refer to:* Siglo XXI Convention Centre, in Mérida, Yucatán* Siglo Veintiuno, a Guatemalan newspaper...
. In the mid-1970s, in the final months of the Presidency of Isabel Martínez de Perón
Isabel Martínez de Perón
María Estela Martínez Cartas de Perón , better known as Isabel Martínez de Perón or Isabel Perón, is a former President of Argentina. She was also the third wife of another former President, Juan Perón...
, he was imprisoned by the government. He is a columnist for newspapers and magazines in Argentina, 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...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1975, after his release from prison and exile to Buenos Aires, García Hamilton initiated his career as a lawyer and founded García Hamilton & Asociados law firm. The firm has grown since then to become an advisory firm providing legal, tax and finance advisory services (GHB Advisory), and is now run by his sons.
García Hamilton was the author of numerous books, including Hispano-American authoritarianism and unproductiveness (1990), and biographies of Juan Bautista Alberdi
Juan Bautista Alberdi
Juan Bautista Alberdi was an Argentine political theorist and diplomat. Although he lived most of his life in exile in Montevideo and Chile, he was one of the most influential Argentine liberals of his age.-Biography:...
, Life of an absentee (1993); Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento was an Argentine activist, intellectual, writer, statesman and the seventh President of Argentina. His writing spanned a wide range of genres and topics, from journalism to autobiography, to political philosophy and history...
, Rowdy Cuyano (1997), and José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
, Don José (2000). Don José sold over 60,000 copies in Argentina. He won the Merit Diploma
Konex Award
Konex Foundation awards, or simple Konex awards are cultural awards from the Konex Foundation to Argentine cultural personalities.Created in 1980, where conceived as a way to reward the Argentine personalities and institutions of different fields, as well as to stimulate the beginners.Even though...
from the Konex Foundation
Konex Foundation
Konex Foundation is an Argentine cultural non-profit organization created in 1980 to promote, stimulate, help, and participate in any form of cultural, educational, intellectual, artistic, social, philanthropic, scientific or sports initiative, work, and enterprise, in their most relevant aspects,...
for Life of an Absentee. He has presented several television programmes on Argentine history.
In 2006, he was deported from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
without explanation. García Hamilton suggested that his ongoing interest in the subject of authoritarianism
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
in Latin American politics might have been responsible.
In 1991 García Hamilton ran as a candidate for vice-governor of Tucumán Province. In 2007 he was elected a national deputy for the province in support of the presidential bid of Roberto Lavagna
Roberto Lavagna
Roberto Lavagna is an Argentine economist and politician, and was the former Minister of Economy and Production of Argentina from April 27, 2002, to November 28, 2005.-Career:...
. He later spoke out against Lavagna's return to the Kirchnerist
Kirchnerism
Kirchnerism is a term used to refer to the political philosophy and supporters of Néstor Kirchner, president of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, and of his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President from 2007...
fold.
He was vice-president of the interfaith NGO Casa Argentina en Jerusalem. In 2002, García Hamilton was awarded with the Sousa Mendes International Award, and in February 2010, the International Raoul Wallemberg Foundation issued a commemorative set of post stamps in his memory, to remember his dedication to interfaith dialogue and tolerance.
He was married to Graciela Gass, with whom he had six children.