José María Campo Serrano
Encyclopedia
José María Campo Serrano (8 September 1832 – 6 January 1915) was a Colombian lawyer, general, and statesman
, who became President of Colombia
after the resignation of the President and the dismissal of the Vice President. He sanctioned the Constitution of 1886
that created the Republic of Colombia proceeding the United States of Colombia
. A Samarian
Costeño, he became president of the Sovereign State of Magdalena, and Antioquia, Governor of Panama
, and held various Ministries during his career as a politician.
, Magdalena
in what was then the Republic of New Granada
. He was the first child of Andrés del Campo and María Josefa Serrano.
He completed his studies in the Seminario Conciliar de Santa Marta, and later attended the Colegio Provincial Santander, where he studied Law
and Philosophy
.
He was married to Rosa Riascos García.
of Magdalena, Prosecutor General
, and member of the Chamber of Representatives
and Senate of Colombia
for Magdalena. He also served twice as President of the Sovereign State of Magdalena, first between 1871–1874, and from 1879–1884.
His administrations were focused mainly on the construction and expansion of railways to foment commerce and industry in the region and connect the country with the port, part of this goal was accomplished in 1881 when contracts were made to start the construction of a railroad to connect Santa Marta with El Banco
.
His administration's goal was to contain the civil insurgency and discourage political opposition. One way Campo did this was by redistricting
some of electoral districts that favored the radical rebels, like the districts of La Unión
and Pabón
.
As in Magdalena, Campo was interested in the fomentation of railways, something he accomplished on August 18, 1885 when negotiations with the private sector were made to improve and expand the railways of Antioquia. General Campo left the Presidency of Antioquia to represent the Constituent Assembly in Bogotá.
. The first post he had in these was in 1882 during the presidency of Francisco Javier Zaldúa
, where he was Minister of Public Instruction
in charge of national education, a post he got again on April 1, 1884, when Ezequiel Hurtado
also made Campo his Minister of Public Instruction.
In the administration of Rafael Núñez
, he worked in two ministries, the Ministry of War
, in which he had to confront the Civil War of 1885, and the Ministry of Finance
, which he left to go to Antioquia.
His last ministerial post was as Minister of Government
during the presidency of Miguel Antonio Caro
.
elected Rafael Núñez
as president, Eliseo Payán
as vice president, and José María Campo as designate. J.M. Campo came to power in a very unusual way; on March 30, 1886, president Núñez presented his resignation to Congress due to his poor health condition caused by dysentery
. The Vice President, as the next in line of succession, had many enemies in congress, and on May 4, Congress revoked Eliseo Payán of his position as vice president.
On April 1, 1886, with no vice president and the president resigning, the Presidential-Designate José María Campo as the next in line to assume the executive power was sworn in as Acting President of the United States of Colombia
.
Of the short presidency of Campo some of the policies of importance that were made were more of a local impact than of large national impact policy. Some of the projects of his administration were the contracts for the installation and construction of public lighting
and potable water services to Bogotá
. He also continued advocating for rail transportation and railways, and in 1887 the Train of the Savanna started operating connecting Bogotá with the near cities of Facatativá
and Zipaquirá
, and it continues in service today.
One of the Decrees made by Campo as President of Colombia was in regards to the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
, the house where the Libertador Simón Bolívar
died. The house was of private property and the owners had offered to sell it to the government, but for an outrageous amount of money. In an executive order
in 1886, Campo seized the property and placed it under the administration of the Department of Magdalena to administer it.
Although he was allowed, Campo did not choose to live in the Palacio de San Carlos, the then Presidential Palace, opting to continue living at his normal residence.
passed its final resolution on August 4, 1886. The next day, President Campo and his Council of Ministers
sanctioned the constitution, making it official and changing the name of the country to Republic of Colombia, and in so, Campo become its first president.
, who in the absence of Núñez became acting president.
, where the Liberal rebels were fighting the Conservative government, as Panama was one of the stages of the Thousand Days War
. Because of his political and military credentials he was named Governor of the Department of Panama, replacing the then governor, Facundo Mutis Durán, on January 1900.
Campo came in strong, he brought reinforcements to the region from different parts of the country, as by now the war was concentrating its efforts on Panama and the Caribbean Region
. He used the strategic impact of railways to mobilize troops and clear adjacent areas.
The war however was getting more complicated, and General Campo had to leave to Barranquilla
to buy weapons and bring reinforcements passing on the governorship to Alejandro Orillac as acting governor. Although General Campo’s leave cause an intensification of the rebel forces, the war came to an end in 1992, cementing the way for the separation of Panama from Colombia
.
He is considered by many as the most influential Samarian in history. His most enduring legacy by far was the Constitution of 1886, which was the country's fundamental law for almost 105 years, until it was replaced by the Constitution of 1991
.
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, who became 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"...
after the resignation of the President and the dismissal of the Vice President. He sanctioned the 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...
that created the Republic of Colombia proceeding the United States of Colombia
United States of Colombia
The United States of Colombia was the name adopted in 1861 through the Rionegro Constitution for the nation which had been known as the Republic of New Granada since the dissolution of the federation of Gran Colombia in 1830-1831....
. A Samarian
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is the capital city of the Colombian department of Magdalena in the Caribbean Region. It was founded in July 29, 1525 by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, which makes it the oldest remaining city in Colombia...
Costeño, he became president of the Sovereign State of Magdalena, and Antioquia, Governor 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...
, and held various Ministries during his career as a politician.
Early life and education
José María Campo was born on September 8, 1832 in Santa MartaSanta Marta
Santa Marta is the capital city of the Colombian department of Magdalena in the Caribbean Region. It was founded in July 29, 1525 by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, which makes it the oldest remaining city in Colombia...
, Magdalena
Magdalena
Magdalena is the original version of the name Magdalene , and is used in Czech, German, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish, Bulgarian, Polish, Slovak, Georgian, Slovene among other languages.Magdalena may also refer to:...
in what was then the Republic of New Granada
Republic of New Granada
The Republic of New Granada was a centralist republic consisting primarily of present-day Colombia and Panama with smaller portions of today's Ecuador, and Venezuela. It was created after the dissolution in 1830 of Gran Colombia. It was later abolished in 1858 when the Granadine Confederation was...
. He was the first child of Andrés del Campo and María Josefa Serrano.
He completed his studies in the Seminario Conciliar de Santa Marta, and later attended the Colegio Provincial Santander, where he studied 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...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
He was married to Rosa Riascos García.
Magdalena
Campo started his political life in his home state of Magdalena. There he served various positions at different levels of government, he was a member of the legislative assemblyLegislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
of Magdalena, Prosecutor General
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
, and member of the Chamber of Representatives
Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
The Chamber of Representatives is the lower house of the Congress of Colombia.The Chamber has 166 elected members for four-year terms.-How the Chamber is elected:...
and Senate of Colombia
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
for Magdalena. He also served twice as President of the Sovereign State of Magdalena, first between 1871–1874, and from 1879–1884.
His administrations were focused mainly on the construction and expansion of railways to foment commerce and industry in the region and connect the country with the port, part of this goal was accomplished in 1881 when contracts were made to start the construction of a railroad to connect Santa Marta with El Banco
El Banco
El Banco is a Colombian Municipality and town located in the southern most part of the Department of Magdalena by the Magdalena River.-External links:...
.
Antioquia
During the Colombian Civil War of 1885 José María Campo served as Civil and Military Chief of the Sovereign State of Antioquia between March 14, and September 21 of 1885.His administration's goal was to contain the civil insurgency and discourage political opposition. One way Campo did this was by redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
some of electoral districts that favored the radical rebels, like the districts of La Unión
La Unión, Antioquia
La Unión is a town and municipality in the Colombian department of Antioquia. Part of the subregion of Eastern Antioquia....
and Pabón
Gómez Plata
Gómez Plata is a town and municipality in the Colombian department of Antioquia. Part of the subregion of Northern Antioquia....
.
As in Magdalena, Campo was interested in the fomentation of railways, something he accomplished on August 18, 1885 when negotiations with the private sector were made to improve and expand the railways of Antioquia. General Campo left the Presidency of Antioquia to represent the Constituent Assembly in Bogotá.
Ministries
General Campo became an active member in the administrations of various presidents as a member of their Council of MinistersCouncil of Ministers of the Republic of Colombia
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Colombia is part of the executive power, and according to the presidential orientation of the Colombian Constitution of 1991, it is a cabinet of advisors to the President of Colombia.-19th century:...
. The first post he had in these was in 1882 during the presidency of Francisco Javier Zaldúa
Francisco Javier Zaldúa
Francisco Javier Martínez de Zaldúa y Racines was a Colombian, lawyer and politician, elected President of Colombia in 1882.- Biographic data :...
, where he was Minister of Public Instruction
Ministry of National Education
Ministry of National Education can refer to:* Ministry of National Education * Ministry of National Education * Ministry of National Education * Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs...
in charge of national education, a post he got again on April 1, 1884, when Ezequiel Hurtado
Ezequiel Hurtado
Ezequiel Hurtado Hurtado was a politician, military general and statesman who became President of Colombia. He was born in Silvia, in the department of Cauca, 14 December 1825 and died in Popayán, 4 September 1890. His parents were Nicolas Hurtado and Maria Trinidad Hurtado...
also made Campo his Minister of Public Instruction.
In the administration of Rafael Núñez
Rafael Núñez (politician)
Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo was a Colombian author, lawyer, journalist and politician, who was elected President of Colombia in 1880 and in 1884. Rafael Núñez was born in Cartagena de Indias, on September 28, 1825. He died in Cartagena on September 18, 1894.-Early life:Little is known about the...
, he worked in two ministries, the Ministry of War
Ministry of National Defense (Colombia)
The Ministry of National Defence , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the armed forces of Colombia, similar to the defense ministries in...
, in which he had to confront the Civil War of 1885, and the Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance and Public Credit
The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the financial and budgetary matters of the country as well as implementing the financial policies passed by Congress, equivalent to the finance ministries of other...
, which he left to go to Antioquia.
His last ministerial post was as Minister of Government
Ministry of the Interior and Justice
The Ministry of the Interior and Justice , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice and interior ministries of other countries....
during the presidency of Miguel Antonio Caro
Miguel Antonio Caro
Miguel Antonio Caro Tobar was a Colombian scholar, poet, journalist, philosopher, orator, philologist, lawyer and politician.- Biographic data :Miguel Antonio Caro was born in Bogotá on November 10, 1845, and he died in the same city on August 5, 1909....
.
Presidency 1886–1887
On December 9, 1885 the Constituent AssemblyConstituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
elected Rafael Núñez
Rafael Núñez (politician)
Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo was a Colombian author, lawyer, journalist and politician, who was elected President of Colombia in 1880 and in 1884. Rafael Núñez was born in Cartagena de Indias, on September 28, 1825. He died in Cartagena on September 18, 1894.-Early life:Little is known about the...
as president, Eliseo Payán
Eliseo Payán
José Eliseo Payán Hurtado was a Colombian lawyer, politician, and military officer. Payán as Vice President of Colombia assumed the Presidency of Colombia due to the absence of President Rafael Núñez in 1887.- Biographic data :...
as vice president, and José María Campo as designate. J.M. Campo came to power in a very unusual way; on March 30, 1886, president Núñez presented his resignation to Congress due to his poor health condition caused by dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
. The Vice President, as the next in line of succession, had many enemies in congress, and on May 4, Congress revoked Eliseo Payán of his position as vice president.
On April 1, 1886, with no vice president and the president resigning, the Presidential-Designate José María Campo as the next in line to assume the executive power was sworn in as Acting President of the United States of Colombia
United States of Colombia
The United States of Colombia was the name adopted in 1861 through the Rionegro Constitution for the nation which had been known as the Republic of New Granada since the dissolution of the federation of Gran Colombia in 1830-1831....
.
Policies
Street light
A street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or walkway, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night. Modern lamps may also have light-sensitive photocells to turn them on at dusk, off at dawn, or activate...
and potable water services to Bogotá
Bogotá
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...
. He also continued advocating for rail transportation and railways, and in 1887 the Train of the Savanna started operating connecting Bogotá with the near cities of Facatativá
Facatativá
Facatativá is a town and municipality in the Cundinamarca Department, located about 28 miles northwest of Bogotá, Colombia and 2,586 meters above sea level...
and Zipaquirá
Zipaquirá
Zipaquirá is a municipality and city of Colombia in the department of Cundinamarca. Its neighboring municipalities are Tausa and Cogua to the north; Nemocón, Gachancipá and Sopó to the east; Cajicá and Tabio to the south; and Subachoque and Pacho to the west. Its seat of municipal government is 49...
, and it continues in service today.
One of the Decrees made by Campo as President of Colombia was in regards to the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is a hacienda or Quinta built in the 17th century, famous for being the death place of Simón Bolívar on December 17, 1830. At that time, the estate produced rum, honey and panela...
, the house where the Libertador Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
died. The house was of private property and the owners had offered to sell it to the government, but for an outrageous amount of money. In an executive order
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
in 1886, Campo seized the property and placed it under the administration of the Department of Magdalena to administer it.
Although he was allowed, Campo did not choose to live in the Palacio de San Carlos, the then Presidential Palace, opting to continue living at his normal residence.
Constitution of 1886
The Constituent Assembly that was called in session in 1885 by Rafael Núñez to draft a new constitutionConstitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
passed its final resolution on August 4, 1886. The next day, President Campo and his Council of Ministers
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Colombia
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Colombia is part of the executive power, and according to the presidential orientation of the Colombian Constitution of 1991, it is a cabinet of advisors to the President of Colombia.-19th century:...
sanctioned the constitution, making it official and changing the name of the country to Republic of Colombia, and in so, Campo become its first president.
Post-Presidency
The 1st President of the newly established Republic of Colombia, stepped down on January 6, 1887 ceding the power to Eliseo PayánEliseo Payán
José Eliseo Payán Hurtado was a Colombian lawyer, politician, and military officer. Payán as Vice President of Colombia assumed the Presidency of Colombia due to the absence of President Rafael Núñez in 1887.- Biographic data :...
, who in the absence of Núñez became acting president.
Panama
José María Campo was once again called into politics and war to go to PanamaPanama
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...
, where the Liberal rebels were fighting the Conservative government, as Panama was one of the stages of the Thousand Days 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...
. Because of his political and military credentials he was named Governor of the Department of Panama, replacing the then governor, Facundo Mutis Durán, on January 1900.
Campo came in strong, he brought reinforcements to the region from different parts of the country, as by now the war was concentrating its efforts on Panama and the Caribbean Region
Caribbean Region
The Caribbean Region or Caribbean Coast Region is a natural region of Colombia mainly composed of eight Departments located contiguous to the Caribbean. The area covers a total land area of including the San Andres Island Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina in the Caribbean...
. He used the strategic impact of railways to mobilize troops and clear adjacent areas.
The war however was getting more complicated, and General Campo had to leave to Barranquilla
Barranquilla
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...
to buy weapons and bring reinforcements passing on the governorship to Alejandro Orillac as acting governor. Although General Campo’s leave cause an intensification of the rebel forces, the war came to an end in 1992, cementing the way for the separation of Panama from Colombia
Separation of Panama from Colombia
The Separation of Panama from Colombia was formalized on 3 November 1903 with the establishment of the Republic of Panama from the Republic of Colombia's Department of Panama.-Prelude:...
.
Death and legacy
José María Campo died in his home in Santa Marta on February 24, 1915 at the age of 92.He is considered by many as the most influential Samarian in history. His most enduring legacy by far was the Constitution of 1886, which was the country's fundamental law for almost 105 years, until it was replaced by the Constitution of 1991
Colombian Constitution of 1991
The Political Constitution of Colombia, better known as the Constitution of 1991, is the current governing document of the Republic of Colombia. Promulgated on July 4 of 1991 , it replaced the Constitution of 1886...
.
See also
- Colombian Constitution of 1886Colombian Constitution of 1886The 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...
- Thousand Days WarThousand Days WarThe 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...
- United States of ColombiaUnited States of ColombiaThe United States of Colombia was the name adopted in 1861 through the Rionegro Constitution for the nation which had been known as the Republic of New Granada since the dissolution of the federation of Gran Colombia in 1830-1831....