José María Reina Barrios
Encyclopedia
José María Reina Barrios (December 24, 1854, San Marcos – February 8, 1898) was President of Guatemala
from 15 March 1892 through 8 February 1898. He was born in San Marcos, Guatemala
. He was nickname
d Reinita, the diminutive form, because of his short stature.
He was a moderate of Guatemala
's Liberal Party, who worked to solidify the less controversial of the reforms of late president Justo Rufino Barrios
. The power of the landowners over the rural peasant
ry increased during his presidency. He oversaw rebuilding of parts of Guatemala City
on a grander scale, with some wide avenues built on the model of those of Paris
. He oversaw Guatemala hosting the first Central American Exposition in 1897. He printed paper currency to fund his ambitious plans, resulting in monetary inflation
and rise of popular opposition to his regime.
José María Reina was assassinated
by Edgar Zollinger, a British citizen of Swiss stock. Reina who was interred in the Metropolitan Cathedral was succeeded as President by Manuel Estrada Cabrera
.
President of Guatemala
The title of President of Guatemala has been the usual title of the leader of Guatemala since 1839, when that title was assumed by Mariano Rivera Paz...
from 15 March 1892 through 8 February 1898. He was born in San Marcos, Guatemala
San Marcos, Guatemala
San Marcos San Marcos San Marcos (elevation: 7,868 feet (2,398 meters) is a city and municipality in Guatemala.It is the capital of the department of San Marcos.The municipality has a population of approximately 45,000.-Sports:...
. He was nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d Reinita, the diminutive form, because of his short stature.
He was a moderate of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
's Liberal Party, who worked to solidify the less controversial of the reforms of late president Justo Rufino Barrios
Justo Rufino Barrios
Justo Rufino Barrios was a President of Guatemala known for his liberal reforms and his attempts to reunite Central America....
. The power of the landowners over the rural peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
ry increased during his presidency. He oversaw rebuilding of parts of Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
on a grander scale, with some wide avenues built on the model of those of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He oversaw Guatemala hosting the first Central American Exposition in 1897. He printed paper currency to fund his ambitious plans, resulting in monetary inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
and rise of popular opposition to his regime.
José María Reina was assassinated
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
by Edgar Zollinger, a British citizen of Swiss stock. Reina who was interred in the Metropolitan Cathedral was succeeded as President by Manuel Estrada Cabrera
Manuel Estrada Cabrera
Manuel José Estrada Cabrera was President of Guatemala from 8 February 1898 to 15 April 1920.Manuel Estrada forcibly took the presidency after the assassination of José María Reina. The Guatemalan cabinet called an emergency meeting to appoint a new successor, but declined to invite the General...
.