Gerardo Barrios

Gerardo Barrios (September 24 1813 – August 29 1865), 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. He was known for his concern for international relations and is attributed for introducing coffee production as the basis of El Salvador's economy. Between 1860 and 1863, Barrios launched a reorganization of the public finances, promoted the coffee production and silk-elaboration related activities, he proposed to create a professional armed force, and favored non-religious public education. In his first years of government he looked for a pacific convivance with Guatemala, which made him visit that country in 1860. However conflicts were not absent, especially with the church.

One of the first incidents was the expulsion of three capuccine religious. In 1860 conflicts escalated when the clerk represented by bishop Tomás Pineda y Zaldaña, denied to accept the Constitution on the Republic, claiming that none of the priests were commited to obey the government, because the only authority above all earth is God, the bishop and the Pope.

Conservatives felt outraged by Barrios, claiming he was anti-clerical, despotic and liberal. Many conservatives, including bishop Pineda y Zaldaña, had to look for shelter in Guatemala and from there they launched a newspaper campaign against the Salvadoran government. In 1861 attacks were strong, and even worse, a confrontational climate began to grow between the two conuntries.

In 1863 El Salvador declared war on Guatemala, and on June 19th Guatemalan troops began invading El Salvador. on October 26th Carrera took over San Salvador, taking full control of the city. The same year Barrios escaped to San Miguel. With Carrera's aproval, Francisco Dueñas installed himself as a president and won the 1865 elections.

As a constitutional president, he promoted a trial againist Barrios, who was captured in Nicaragua on July 27th and extraditated to El Salvador the same week. The court martial began on August 10th, and he was sentenced to death on August 28th; the execution took place the following day.

In 1910 he was officially granted a title of 'national hero' for his heroic efforts to protect the rights of the farming communities as well as leading his military triumphs to protect Central America from foreign invasions. His name has been honored by naming national institutions, two cities (Ciudad Barrios and San Gerardo), and a major street after him, as well as having his life taught at schools.