Fulgencio Yegros

Fulgencio Yegros y Franco de Torres (b. 1780 in Quyquyho, d. 1821) was Paraguayan soldier and first head of state of independent Paraguay.

Yegros was born to family of military tradition and pursued himself also military career. He studied in Asunción and joined the army. He had his first combat experiences in 1802 against the Portuguese and in 1807 when he was part of Paraguayan troops that defended Buenos Aires during British invasions of the Río de la Plata. He ranked captain in 1810 and was given the governorship of Misiones.

Yegros and Pedro Juan Caballero were the main military figures in revolution in May 1811, which led to independence of Paraguay. Following independece, Yegros and José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia were chosen as Consuls of the Republic following model of French Revolution. He founded the first military academy in independent Paraguay.

Yegros was more a military man than politician, and his role as Consul was marginalized by Francia. His terms as Consul of Paraguay were from 19 June 1811 to 12 October 1813 and from 12 February 1814 to 12 June 1814. [http://www.info-regenten.de/regent/regent-d/paraguay.htm] After his last term, Francia become sole ruler of Paraguay and Yegros retired from public life to his estate.

In 1820 Yegros was participant in the revolution that tried to oust Francia. Following the failure of the revolution, Yegros was prisoned and he died in prison on 17 July 1821.