José Ruperto Monagas

Infobox_President | name=José Ruperto Monagas


order=23rd President of Venezuela
term_start=February 20, 1869
term_end=April 16 1870
predecessor=Guillermo Tell Villegas
successor=Guillermo Tell Villegas
birth_date=1831
birth_place=Aragua de Barcelona, Anzoátegui, Venezuela
death_date=death date|1880|6|12|mf=y
death_place=Aragua de Barcelona, Anzoátegui, Venezuela
spouse=Esperanza Hernández|

José Ruperto Monagas (1831 - June 12 1880) was elected President of Venezuela for the period of 1869-1870. Also, he was a son of José Tadeo Monagas.

Biography

José Ruperto Monagas was born in "Aragua de Barcelona", Anzoátegui, Venezuela, 1831, soldier and politician, son of José Tadeo Monagas and Luisa Oriach, was elected president in 1870, but was not ratified by Congress. Like representative of Maturín, signed the Constitution of April 1857. In March 1858, being commander of Barcelona, recognized the government of Julián Castro, but the general "Justo Briceño", representative of the government, distrusted of him, and jailed Monagas in the "Castillo Libertador" of Puerto Cabello.

José Ruperto Monagas participated in the Federal War, in July 1868, with the triumph of the "Revolución Azul" initiated his military figuration, being head of the General Staff of the Army (due to the resignation of the general "Luis Level de Goda"), directing the attack to Puerto Cabello, defended by the general Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual, occupying the seat in August 1868. Later, the movement of the "Azules" (fusion of liberal and conservatives) lacked unity when it was divided between those in favor of José Ruperto Monagas and those of his cousin "Domingo Monagas Marrero", son of José Gregorio Monagas. With the death his father José Tadeo Monagas, at the age of 83 (November 1868), these contradictions became serious, and again assumed the headquarters of the General Staff of the Army. Reunited the Congress of 1869, was discussed the temporary election of a “designated”, between him and his cousin, while the presidential elections took place. In these circumstances, "Domingo Monagas" agreed to stop his candidacy in favor of José Ruperto, who was chosen like first designated (February 1869). Before the new outbreak of the civil war, José Ruperto Monagas declared himself in military campaign, and he went to Maracaibo, where was an insurgency of the general "Venancio Pulgar", president of the state, and left the charge of the presidency to Guillermo Tell Villegas.

In 1870, were celebrated the presidential elections in the middle of an increasing anarchy. José Ruperto Monagas was favored by the scrutinies, but the Legislature abstained to proclaim him as president, alleging that all the electoral registries had not been received. On the other hand, before the invasion of Antonio Guzmán Blanco, in February 1870, Monagas left again in military campaign, this time without success, Caracas is occupied on April 27, 1870. Like head of the Army and insolvent presidential candidate, José Ruperto Monagas signed the surrender of the government, and retired from public life. He was mason in the 33rd degree. José Ruperto Monagas dies in "Aragua de Barcelona", Anzoátegui, Venezuela, June 12, 1880.

See also

*Venezuela
*Presidents of Venezuela

References

* [http://www.gobiernoenlinea.gob.ve/venezuela/perfil_presidente11.html José Ruperto Monagas] — Official biography.
* [http://www.mipunto.com/venezuelavirtual/000/000/004/129.html José Ruperto Monagas]