Robustiano Patrón Costas
Encyclopedia
Robustiano Patrón Costas (August 5, 1878 – September 24, 1965) was a conservative Argentine
politician and businessman who served as interim President of the nation and governor of his native province. He led the National Democratic Party
.
Patrón Costas was born in Salta
to Francisca Costas Figueroa and Robustiano Patrón. He studied law at the University of Buenos Aires
, receiving his doctorate in 1901.
The following year, Patrón Costas was appointed minister of works for Salta Province
by Governor Ángel Zerda, and in 1912, he served as the head of government for Governor Avelino Figueroa. He was appointed to complete Figueroa's term as Governor from 1913 to 1916. In 1916, Patrón Costas was elected as a National Democrat to the Argentine Senate
, serving until 1925, when he returned to Salta's provincial legislature as president of the Senate. He was re-elected to the national Senate in 1932 and again in 1938. As the Provisional President of the Senate he briefly served as interim President of Argentina in the early 1940s.
He was close to President Ramón Castillo
and a leading figure in the governing Concordancia
. In 1942 he was announced as the government's candidate to succeed the President. His candidacy proved widely unpalatable, however: the wealthy Patrón Costas was a synonym for the staunchly conservative provincial aristocracies in Northern Argentina, and there were widespread rumors the government planned a massive fraud to install him as president. A coup
in 1943 put an end to Castillo's government and Patron Costas' candidacy.
As a businessman, Patrón Costas' name is often associated with the sugar industry. In 1918 he and his brother founded the sugar refinery Ingenio San Martín de Tabacal in Orán Department
which at one time was one of the largest in the Western hemisphere. It was this very position which has shrouded Patrón Costas in a veil of elitism, abuse and tyranny. Workers at the plantation were exploited to the point of exhaustion, and living conditions were described as nothing short of appalling. , the company is owned by the Seaboard Corporation
.
Patrón Costas worked with the Archbishop of Salta, Roberto Tavella, to establish the Catholic University of Salta, a private university. He was awarded a knighthood in the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great
by Pope Paul VI
.
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...
politician and businessman who served as interim President of the nation and governor of his native province. He led the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Argentina)
The National Democratic Party, or Partido Demócrata Nacional was an Argentine conservative party created in 1931 which disappeared after 1955. It was generally known simply as the Conservative Party, or Partido Conservador...
.
Patrón Costas was born in Salta
Salta
Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta Province. Along with its metropolitan area, it has a population of 464,678 inhabitants as of the , making it Argentina's eighth largest city.-Overview:...
to Francisca Costas Figueroa and Robustiano Patrón. He studied law at 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...
, receiving his doctorate in 1901.
The following year, Patrón Costas was appointed minister of works for Salta Province
Salta Province
Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the east clockwise Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca. It also surrounds Jujuy...
by Governor Ángel Zerda, and in 1912, he served as the head of government for Governor Avelino Figueroa. He was appointed to complete Figueroa's term as Governor from 1913 to 1916. In 1916, Patrón Costas was elected as a National Democrat to the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
, serving until 1925, when he returned to Salta's provincial legislature as president of the Senate. He was re-elected to the national Senate in 1932 and again in 1938. As the Provisional President of the Senate he briefly served as interim President of Argentina in the early 1940s.
He was close to President Ramón Castillo
Ramón Castillo
Ramón S. Castillo Barrionuevo was a conservative Argentine politician who served as President of Argentina from June 27, 1942 to June 4, 1943...
and a leading figure in the governing Concordancia
Infamous Decade
The Infamous Decade in Argentina is the name given to the period of time that started in 1930 with the coup d'état against President Hipólito Yrigoyen by José Félix Uriburu...
. In 1942 he was announced as the government's candidate to succeed the President. His candidacy proved widely unpalatable, however: the wealthy Patrón Costas was a synonym for the staunchly conservative provincial aristocracies in Northern Argentina, and there were widespread rumors the government planned a massive fraud to install him as president. A coup
Arturo Rawson
Arturo Rawson was the President of Argentina from June 4, 1943 to June 7, 1943.-Biography:Born in Santiago del Estero, Rawson attended Argentina’s Military College, which he graduated from in 1907 and subsequently taught at for a time. Rawson rose through the ranks of the Argentine Army and was...
in 1943 put an end to Castillo's government and Patron Costas' candidacy.
As a businessman, Patrón Costas' name is often associated with the sugar industry. In 1918 he and his brother founded the sugar refinery Ingenio San Martín de Tabacal in Orán Department
Orán, Salta
San Ramón de la Nueva Orán is a city in the north-west of the , about 270 km from the provincial capital, Salta...
which at one time was one of the largest in the Western hemisphere. It was this very position which has shrouded Patrón Costas in a veil of elitism, abuse and tyranny. Workers at the plantation were exploited to the point of exhaustion, and living conditions were described as nothing short of appalling. , the company is owned by the Seaboard Corporation
Seaboard Corporation
Seaboard Corporation is a diversified conglomerate that operates worldwide a number of agriculture and ocean transport businesses. In the United States, the company mainly engages in pork production and processing. Internationally, Seaboard also has operations in cargo shipping, commodity...
.
Patrón Costas worked with the Archbishop of Salta, Roberto Tavella, to establish the Catholic University of Salta, a private university. He was awarded a knighthood in the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
.