José Joaquín de Olmedo y Maruri

José Joaquín de Olmedo y Maruri (Guayaquil, March 20,1780 - February 19, 1847) A patriot and a poet, son of the Spaniard Captain Don Miguel de Olmedo y Troyano and the Guayaquilean lady Ana Francisca de Maruri y Salavarría.

On October 9th, 1820, Olmedo declared the independence of the city of Guayaquil from Spain with the help of other patriots that fought for that noble cause. He was the only President of the "Free Province of Guayaquil" although this territory was later united to the Great Colombia by Simón Bolívar against the will of Olmedo. He was also the mayor of the city of Guayaquil on two occasions.

He became the first Vice President of Ecuador in 1830 and served to 1831.

He was President of Ecuador from June 6, 1845, to December 8, 1845 although on June 18 of that year there was an attempted coup.

He was also a noted poet with an emphasis on patriotic themes, author of poems such as "La victoria de Junin", which pictures the Latin American fighters for independence from Spain as the legitimate heirs of the Incas.

He is remembered as one of the best Guayaquileans ever. Olmedo devoted his life to Guayaquil, he created the Guayaquilean flag and shield, and in 1821 he composed the "Song to the October Ninth", which would later become the Guayaquil Anthem.

The José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil is named after him.

External links

* [http://www.presidencia.gov.ec/modulos.asp?id=28/ Official Website of the Ecuadorian Government about the country President's History]