José María Reina Barrios
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His Excellency General of Division José María de Jesús Reina Barrios |
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|---|---|
General José María Reina Barrios
Museo Nacional de Historia de Guatemala |
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| 15th President of Guatemala | |
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In office March 15, 1892 – February 8, 1898 |
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| Preceded by | Manuel Lisandro Barillas Bercián |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Estrada Cabrera |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
24 December 1854 San Marcos, Guatemala  Guatemala
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| Died | 8 February 1898 (aged 43) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Argelia Benton |
| Children | He did not have any children with Argelia Benton; but he did have five children out of wedlock, among them Joaquín and José. |
| Parents | Joaquín Reina y Celia Barrios |
| Residence | Guatemala City |
| Occupation | Military |
| Signature |  |
| Nickname(s) | "Reinita" "Don Chemita" "Tachuela" "Man of the tragic eights" |
José María Reyna Barrios (24 December 1854, San Marcos – 8 February 1898) was President of Guatemala from 15 March 1892 until his death on 8 February 1898. He was born in San Marcos, Guatemala and was nicknamed Reynita, the diminutive form, because of his short stature.
He was a moderate of Guatemala's Liberal Party, who worked to solidify the less controversial of the reforms of late president Justo Rufino Barrios.
Reyna Barrios was nephew of Justo Rufino Barrios, and as such he started his political career while his uncle was still President of Guatemala. After Barrios sudden death in Chalchuapa, El Salvador on April 2. 1885, Reyna Barrios increased his political activity under the government of Manuel Lisandro Barillas, who was jealous of his popularity and sent him to Europe under false pretenses that there was a diplomatic appointment for him. The appointment never materialized and Reina Barrios was stuck in Europe and then in the United States for a few years.
Reyna Barrios finally made it back to Guatemala, in time to run for office in the 1892 presidential elections. It was the first election in Guatemala that allowed the candidates to make propaganda in the local newspapers. The canditates who ran for office were:
Barillas Bercian was unique among all liberal presidents of Guatemala between 1871 and 1944: he handed over power to his successor peacefully. When election time approached, he sent for the three Liberal candidates to ask them what their government plan would be. The following anecdote recounts better what happened then:
First arrived lawyer Francisco Lainfiesta, and General Barillas, with the friendliest of smiles, said: "Mr. Lainfiesta: you are one of the candidates in the upcoming elections and perhaps the more likely to win. Therefore, I would like to know what your attitude and your political system of government will be, if you get to win. Especially, I would like to know your attitude about my person; because I have made my mistakes, I do not deny it. I was a simple worker at my carpentry when General Justo Rufino Barrios sent for me to be appointed second presidential designate. I would therefore, Mr. Lainfiesta, know what conduct you will observe towards me." Mr. Lainfiesta said: "General Barillas: if luck would favor me with the election victory, my government will be based on strict adherence to the Constitution; the law would be the law and anyone who has acquired some responsibility, will have to answer for it before the relevant courts. A firm and righteous compliance with the constitutional provisions shall be the standard of my conduct as president". "Very well" said general Barillas, and both parted cordially.
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Wikipedia