José Trinidad Cabañas
Encyclopedia
José Trinidad Cabañas (9 June 1805 - 8 January 1871) served as President of Honduras for two separate terms: From 1 March to 6 July 1852. And 31 December 1853 to 6 June 1855. He was a General and liberal politician whose role in Honduran history began during the Civil War 1826-29. He became a Central America hero, when he attempted to reunite Central America, during Francisco Morazán
's tenure and after the unionist's death.
During his second term as President, Cabañas attempted to build the railroad in Honduras. He was supported by the common Central American people, but his liberal beliefs were not accepted by the conservatives, then holding power. He was popularly known as being: "The gentleman without blemish and without fear".
and was baptized on the day of his birth.in 1981
He attended school at the "Colegio Tridentino" in Comayagua
, where he studied latin
, rhetoric
, theology
and philosophy
.
, and overthrew the government of Dionisio de Herrera
, Cabañas, at 32 years old, volunteered himself and his three sons proclaiming,
Cabañas later joined the army of the Federal Republic of Central America
, where he was deputy to Gen. Francisco Morazán and eventually became a General of the Federal Army, gaining political and military leadership, which earned him the position of deputy of the Constituent Assembly of 1830.
Cabañas' first military experience was at Battle of the Trinity on 11 November 1839. He participated in the battles in San Salvador
, Las Charcas, and also stood out in the battles of The Holy Spirit and in the battles of San Pedro Perulapán —conducted in Salvadoran territory—, occurred on 6 April and 25 September 1839, respectively.
At 13 November of this year, he defeated the forces of General Francisco Zelaya y Ayes
on the battle in El Sitio of La Soledad, on outskirts of Tegucigalpa, and he was later defeated by the same General on 31 January 1840 in Los Llanos, in Potrero.
After the liberal defeat of 1840, Cabañas and Gen. Morazán moved from Guatemala
and went into exile in Panamá
, then he traveled to Costa Rica
.
Cabañas established a loyal friendship with General Francisco Morazán
, who, as General Luis Maldonado says, told him "My Dear General" in his correspondence. After the death of Morazán in Costa Rica on 15 September 1842, General Cabañas says: "It's not possible. To us can shoot, but to General Morazán not...that would be a crime to Central America".
After this he returned to El Salvador
, where he lived for several years and collaborated in the government of Salvadorean presidents Eugenio Aguilar
and Doroteo Vasconcelos
. He was Minister of War on December 1850 and was defeated at the Battle of Sitio in San José La Arada
on February 1851.
with Vice-President, Cabañas made important deeds to encourage the public instruction, agriculture and mining, as well as significant efforts to improve the coffee cultivation and Public Instruction. He was the first promoter of the railroad, the coffee and craft of rush. He was an educator president, that imposed taxes on exports of cattle and timber to establish the first 50 public schools paid for by the Exchequer.
While Trinidad Cabañas resided in the city San Miguel, was reported by a Senators' Commission consisted of Francisco López, Vicente Vaquero and León Alvarado, about the results of the elections conducted in Honduras in late 1851, when he was elected as President. The Legislative Assembly of Honduras sent him the Election's Decree as Honduras' Constitutional President, he made the Promise of Law and took possession on 1 March 1852.
In order to restore the Federation, Cabañas was appointed as Vice-Chief of State by the Constituent Assembly of Central America, met in Tegucigalpa on 13 October 1852. However Cabañas rejected this charge and said: "I'm not ready for so high office, I'm a soldier, I have not public administration knowledges" so that the Vice President Pedro Molina took over the task to celebrate assemblies in El Salvador and Nicaragua
.
At 23 June 1853 he At 23 June 1853 he signed the first contract for construction of the Inter-Oceanic Railroad of Honduras, to communicate Omoa with Amapala, a project that came developing since 1590 but was shelved by the Council of the Indies and realized in Panama. As this idea required borrowings from foreign banks, Cabañas, saw this option as a threat to the transfer and loss of national sovereignty, so he withdrew and the project was conducted in the government Jose Maria Medina.
, General Rafael Carrera
to General Cabañas. Thus, Cabañas deposited the presidency to General Francisco Gómez
during the period from 9 May to 31 December 1853, to personally lead the military campaign against Guatemala, and installed in Gracias his headquarters.
He returned to the presidency on 1 January 1854 and faced difficult political conditions. On July to this year, he sent a military column to Nicaragua under the leadership of General Francisco Gomez, who died attacked by cholera
on 25 July 1854, without achieve the objectives to impose the supporters of the old Federation.
Due to attempts of Cabañas to restore the Central American Federation and to his conflicts with the conservative Nicaraguan government of Rafael Carrera
, he declared that his aim in Honduras was to overthrow to General José Trinidad Cabañas, which achieved backing the Honduran conservatives, who, led by General Juan Lopez, invaded the nation and defeated to Cabañas on the Battle of Masaguara, in the plains of Santa Rosa and Gracias on 6 October 1855, forcing him to resign the presidency and take refuge in El Salvador. General Juan López called the Vice-President José Santiago Bueso to hold the presidency of the Executive, on 18 October of same year.
In El Salvador, Cabañas became both a Minister in the government and head of the National Congress.
Cabañas traveled to Nicaragua to seek support to regain the Honduras' presidency to the Nicaraguan president Patricio Rivas
, who didn't give him for alleged influences of adventurer William Walker
. So he returned to El Salvador, where he lived for many years and served as minister and civil and military governor of San Miguel in the government of his friend Gerardo Barrios
(1858–1863).
in Central America, then was appointed by the administration of President José María Medina
as quartermaster of the Customs of Trujillo, Colón
. Cabañas died on 8 January 1871, at age 65.
After his death, The Government of Honduras awarded him the title of "Soldier of the motherland" and the Republic of El Salvador named "Cabañas Department
" in his honor. His remains rest in the church of San Sebastian de Comayagua
.
Francisco Morazán
General Francisco Morazán was a Honduran general and a politician who ruled several Central American states at different times during the turbulent period from 1827 to 1842. He rose to prominence at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on November 11, 1827...
's tenure and after the unionist's death.
During his second term as President, Cabañas attempted to build the railroad in Honduras. He was supported by the common Central American people, but his liberal beliefs were not accepted by the conservatives, then holding power. He was popularly known as being: "The gentleman without blemish and without fear".
Biography
José Trinidad Cabañas was born to José María Cabañas Rivera and Juana Fiallos in TegucigalpaTegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
and was baptized on the day of his birth.in 1981
He attended school at the "Colegio Tridentino" in Comayagua
Comayagua
Comayagua is a city in Honduras, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth...
, where he studied latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
, theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
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...
.
Military life
In 1827, when the military forces of Justo Milla invaded and besieged ComayaguaComayagua
Comayagua is a city in Honduras, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth...
, and overthrew the government of Dionisio de Herrera
Dionisio de Herrera
José Dionisio de la Trinidad de Herrera y Díaz del Valle was a Liberal Honduran politician, head of state of Honduras from 1824 to 1827 and head of state of Nicaragua from 1830 to 1833. During his terms, Honduras and Nicaragua were states within the Federal Republic of Central America...
, Cabañas, at 32 years old, volunteered himself and his three sons proclaiming,
- "Sir, the weight of my years does not allow me to accompany you to battlefield, but here you have my three sons that can do what I should, with a willingness to shed their blood for the flag that you defend".
Cabañas later joined the army of the Federal Republic of Central America
Federal Republic of Central America
The Federal Republic of Central America, known as the United Provinces of Central America in its first year of creation, was a sovereign state in Central America, which consisted of the territories of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala of New Spain...
, where he was deputy to Gen. Francisco Morazán and eventually became a General of the Federal Army, gaining political and military leadership, which earned him the position of deputy of the Constituent Assembly of 1830.
Cabañas' first military experience was at Battle of the Trinity on 11 November 1839. He participated in the battles in San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, Las Charcas, and also stood out in the battles of The Holy Spirit and in the battles of San Pedro Perulapán —conducted in Salvadoran territory—, occurred on 6 April and 25 September 1839, respectively.
At 13 November of this year, he defeated the forces of General Francisco Zelaya y Ayes
Francisco Zelaya y Ayes
Francisco Zelaya y Ayes was acting President of Honduras from 21 September 1839 to 1 January 1841.-Sources:*Jose Francisco Zelaya y Ayes*http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Honduras.htm...
on the battle in El Sitio of La Soledad, on outskirts of Tegucigalpa, and he was later defeated by the same General on 31 January 1840 in Los Llanos, in Potrero.
After the liberal defeat of 1840, Cabañas and Gen. Morazán moved from 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...
and went into exile in Panamá
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...
, then he traveled to Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
.
Cabañas established a loyal friendship with General Francisco Morazán
Francisco Morazán
General Francisco Morazán was a Honduran general and a politician who ruled several Central American states at different times during the turbulent period from 1827 to 1842. He rose to prominence at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on November 11, 1827...
, who, as General Luis Maldonado says, told him "My Dear General" in his correspondence. After the death of Morazán in Costa Rica on 15 September 1842, General Cabañas says: "It's not possible. To us can shoot, but to General Morazán not...that would be a crime to Central America".
After this he returned to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, where he lived for several years and collaborated in the government of Salvadorean presidents Eugenio Aguilar
Eugenio Aguilar
Eugenio Aguilar Gonzalez Batres was President of El Salvador from 21 February 1846 to 1 February 1848....
and Doroteo Vasconcelos
Doroteo Vasconcelos
Doroteo Vasconcelos Vides y Ladrón de Guevara was President of El Salvador 7 February 1848 - 1 February 1850 and 4 February 1850 - 1 March 1851....
. He was Minister of War on December 1850 and was defeated at the Battle of Sitio in San José La Arada
San José La Arada
San José La Arada is a municipality in the Chiquimula department of Guatemala....
on February 1851.
Presidency
During his tenure, with José Santiago BuesoJosé Santiago Bueso
José Santiago Bueso was President of Honduras 18 October - 8 November 1855....
with Vice-President, Cabañas made important deeds to encourage the public instruction, agriculture and mining, as well as significant efforts to improve the coffee cultivation and Public Instruction. He was the first promoter of the railroad, the coffee and craft of rush. He was an educator president, that imposed taxes on exports of cattle and timber to establish the first 50 public schools paid for by the Exchequer.
While Trinidad Cabañas resided in the city San Miguel, was reported by a Senators' Commission consisted of Francisco López, Vicente Vaquero and León Alvarado, about the results of the elections conducted in Honduras in late 1851, when he was elected as President. The Legislative Assembly of Honduras sent him the Election's Decree as Honduras' Constitutional President, he made the Promise of Law and took possession on 1 March 1852.
In order to restore the Federation, Cabañas was appointed as Vice-Chief of State by the Constituent Assembly of Central America, met in Tegucigalpa on 13 October 1852. However Cabañas rejected this charge and said: "I'm not ready for so high office, I'm a soldier, I have not public administration knowledges" so that the Vice President Pedro Molina took over the task to celebrate assemblies in El Salvador and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
At 23 June 1853 he At 23 June 1853 he signed the first contract for construction of the Inter-Oceanic Railroad of Honduras, to communicate Omoa with Amapala, a project that came developing since 1590 but was shelved by the Council of the Indies and realized in Panama. As this idea required borrowings from foreign banks, Cabañas, saw this option as a threat to the transfer and loss of national sovereignty, so he withdrew and the project was conducted in the government Jose Maria Medina.
War against Guatemala
At 1853, Cabañas appointed Jose Francisco Barrundia, Minister Plenipotentiary in Washington. During this year, were constants the harassment of the President of GuatemalaPresident 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...
, General Rafael Carrera
Rafael Carrera
José Rafael Carrera Turcios was the ruler of Guatemala from 1844 to 1848 and from 1851 until his death in 1865. During his military career and presidency, the new nations in Central America faced numerous problems...
to General Cabañas. Thus, Cabañas deposited the presidency to General Francisco Gómez
Francisco Gómez
Francisco Gómez de Altamirano y de Elizondo was a Central American licenciado, military officer and Liberal politician...
during the period from 9 May to 31 December 1853, to personally lead the military campaign against Guatemala, and installed in Gracias his headquarters.
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
on 25 July 1854, without achieve the objectives to impose the supporters of the old Federation.
Due to attempts of Cabañas to restore the Central American Federation and to his conflicts with the conservative Nicaraguan government of Rafael Carrera
Rafael Carrera
José Rafael Carrera Turcios was the ruler of Guatemala from 1844 to 1848 and from 1851 until his death in 1865. During his military career and presidency, the new nations in Central America faced numerous problems...
, he declared that his aim in Honduras was to overthrow to General José Trinidad Cabañas, which achieved backing the Honduran conservatives, who, led by General Juan Lopez, invaded the nation and defeated to Cabañas on the Battle of Masaguara, in the plains of Santa Rosa and Gracias on 6 October 1855, forcing him to resign the presidency and take refuge in El Salvador. General Juan López called the Vice-President José Santiago Bueso to hold the presidency of the Executive, on 18 October of same year.
In El Salvador, Cabañas became both a Minister in the government and head of the National Congress.
Cabañas traveled to Nicaragua to seek support to regain the Honduras' presidency to the Nicaraguan president Patricio Rivas
Patricio Rivas
Patricio Rivas, a wealthy lawyer, was Acting President of Nicaragua from 30 June 1839 to 27 July 1839 and from 21 September 1840 to 4 March 1841, respectively. Later he served as the 33rd President of one of the several competing governments of Nicaragua from 30 October 1855 to 24 June 1857...
, who didn't give him for alleged influences of adventurer William Walker
William Walker
William Walker may refer to:* William Walker , sometime chief of the Wyandot Nation in Ohio and Kansas* William Walker * William Walker , an early governor of British Guiana...
. So he returned to El Salvador, where he lived for many years and served as minister and civil and military governor of San Miguel in the government of his friend Gerardo Barrios
Gerardo Barrios
Gerardo Barrios , was President of El Salvador 12 March 1859 - 26 October 1863.Barrios was a liberal and supported the unity of Central America. He served as president of El Salvador several times - in 1858, from 1859 to 1860 and again from 1861...
(1858–1863).
Last years
During the last years of his life, General Cabañas retired from politic and could return to Honduras at 1867 and settled in Comayagua. In Honduras, he began a campaign against the presence of William WalkerWilliam Walker
William Walker may refer to:* William Walker , sometime chief of the Wyandot Nation in Ohio and Kansas* William Walker * William Walker , an early governor of British Guiana...
in Central America, then was appointed by the administration of President José María Medina
José María Medina
José María Medina was temporarily President of Honduras between 1 September and 31 December 1863, and then served for a much longer period between 15 March 1864 and 26 July 1872. He provisionally served a third time between 12 August and 27 August 1876....
as quartermaster of the Customs of Trujillo, Colón
Trujillo, Colón
Trujillo is a city and a municipality on the northern Caribbean coast of the Honduran department of Colón, of which the city is the capital. The municipality has a population of about 30,000 . The city is located on a bluff overlooking the Bay of Trujillo. Behind the city rise two prominent...
. Cabañas died on 8 January 1871, at age 65.
After his death, The Government of Honduras awarded him the title of "Soldier of the motherland" and the Republic of El Salvador named "Cabañas Department
Cabañas Department
Cabañas is a department of El Salvador in the north central part of the country. The capital is Sensuntepeque. Sensuntepeque means 400 hills because around the department there are small hills.One of the coldest regions in El Salvador and Certified place of Tourism , strongly recommended. Cabañas...
" in his honor. His remains rest in the church of San Sebastian de Comayagua
Comayagua
Comayagua is a city in Honduras, some 80 km northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters above sea level. In 2003 the estimated population was 60,000 people. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth...
.