Gabriel París Gordillo

Gabriel París Gordillo (March 8 1910 – March 21 2008) was President of Colombia from May 1957 to August 1958 as Chairman of the Colombian Military Junta Government following his 1957 Coup d'état.

Early years

Gabriel París studied at the Colegio San Simón in Ibagué, Department of Tolima. After graduating París enlisted in the Colombian Army studying at the ‘Gr. José María Córdova' Academy in 1928 and becoming a lieutenant for the cavalry later on December 11, 1929 assigned to "Grupo No. 1 Páez", unit in which he spent most of his career.

War with Peru

As a lieutenant París participated in the Colombia-Peru War in 1933 at the línea Baraya-La Tagua war front. For being an excellent officer París was assigned a horse trainer at the ‘Gr. José María Córdova' Academy.

Promotions as officer

Gabriel París was promoted to Major in 1941 at the Colombia Superior School of War. In 1941 was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was sent to study in Fort Leavenworth, United States. He was later assigned trainer at the Colombian Superior School of War and Chief of the Mounted and Veterinary. In 1949 was assigned commander of the Grupo N° 2 Rondón unit and in 1950, Chief of the Second Brigade, based in Barranquilla. He was later assigned commander of the Fourth Brigade, based in Medellín.

Under Rojas Pinillas rule

During the military dictatorship of Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, París was appointed to many public office posts.

General of the Army

París was promoted to Brigadier General on February 28, 1953 and assigned commander of the Colombian Army. On June 27 of this same year París was appointed alternative representative of Colombia in the disarmament commission of the UN Security Council acting as ambassador of Colombia to the United Nations.

Ministries

París was appointed Minister of Justice on February 9, 1954 and later on August 7 appointed as Minister of War. He also managed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs temporarily. París occupied the presidency of Colombia temporarily while General Rojas Pinilla visited Ecuador between July 30 and August 2 in 1955. On February 29, 1956 París was promoted to the rank of Major General.

Military Junta

At the age of 47 years old, París was selected by General Rojas Pinilla to precede the Military Junta set to replace himself. París assumed the Presidency on May 10, 1957 along other three Army high ranking officers; Luis E. Ordóñez Castillo, Rafael Navas Pardo, Deogracias Fonseca Espinosa and another from the Colombian National Armada Rear Admiral Rubén Piedrahita Arango.

As Chief of the Military Junta, París promoted the advancement of technical educational institutions such as the "Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje" SENA, promoted a national plebiscite which originated the National Front and decreasing the foreign debt. París also implemented the Plan Vallejo which intended to stimulate exports, established bipartisanship in the public office bureaucracy and reopened the Congress of Colombia on July 28, 1958.

End of Military Junta

On May 4, 1958 popular elections took place to replace the Military Junta and transition once again into a democracy. Alberto Lleras resulted elected as the first president of the National Front. General París retired from active service and inaugurated Lleras as president of Colombia on August 7, 1958. París Gordillo dedicated to his private life affairs.

Recognitions

In 1996 París was condecorated by the Municipal Council of Bogotá in the 150th anniversary of the installation of the Simón Bolívar statue at the Plaza Mayor. The statue wasa donated by París's great grandfather don José Ignacio París Ricaurte.

In 2000 was honorary promoted to three suns general by then president of Colombia, Andrés Pastrana.

In 2002 París attended the inauguration of Álvaro Uribe as president of Colombia.

Personal life

Gabriel París married María Felisa Quevedo París (his niece) at the age of 29 and had four children; Gabriel, Jaime, Gloria and Ligia París Quevedo.

He lived his last days at a ranch named ‘El Recreo' in a vereda named El Topacio en Flandes. At the age of 98 years old was the last survivor of the military junta and the eldest former president of Colombia.

References

External links

* [http://www.rulers.org Rulers.org]
* [http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/biografias/parigabr.htm Luis Angel Arango Library: Gabriel París Gordillo]