Agustín Gamarra | |
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10th President of Peru | |
In office September 1, 1829 – December 20, 1833 |
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Preceded by | Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente |
Succeeded by | Francisco Xavier de Luna Pizarro |
14th President of Peru | |
In office August 25, 1838 – November 18, 1841 |
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Preceded by | Andrés de Santa Cruz |
Succeeded by | Manuel Menéndez |
Personal details | |
Born | August 27, 1785 Cusco, Peru |
Died | November 18, 1841 (aged 56) Ingavi, Bolivia |
Nationality | Peruvian |
Spouse(s) | Francisca Zubiaga y Bernales |
Profession | Soldier |
Agustín Gamarra Messia (August 27, 1785 in Cusco, Peru – November 18, 1841 in Ingavi, Bolivia) was a Peruvian soldier and politician, who served as the 10th and 14th President of Peru.
Gamarra was a Mestizo, being of mixed Spanish and Quechua descent. He had a military life since childhood, battling against the royalist forces. He then joined the cause of Independence as second in command after Andrés de Santa Cruz. He also participated in the Battle of Ayacucho, and was later named Chief of State. After the invasion of Bolivia in 1828, he was named a mariscal (marshal), a highly esteemed military officer.
After the defeat of José de la Mar in Gran Colombia, Gamarra urged his overthrow and assumed the presidency for a brief period after Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente. The peace treaty with Gran Colombia was also signed during Gamarra's government.
The government of Gamarra followed contrary beliefs to those of José de la Mar. This coincided with a great Peruvian constitutionalist movement; Gamarra put aside the Constitution of 1828, which he opposed given the limitations that were established for the executive branch.
Gamarra finished, with great effort, his first constitutional government. He had a very active character which allowed him to leave Lima to thwart rebellions in various parts of the country. During such expeditions he would leave the presidency to Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente, who manifested his authoritarian character and started to receive the enmity of other government officials based in Lima.
Another idea that obsessed Gamarra was the annexation of Bolivia. He shared this idea with Andrés de Santa Cruz. However, while Bolivia did not think of the creation of one single State, Gamarra believed in the incorporation of the Bolivian territory under a single Peruvian nation.