Juan Bautista Gill
| Juan Bautista Gill | |
|---|---|
 |
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| President of Paraguay | |
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In office November 25, 1874 – April 12, 1877 |
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| Vice President | Higinio Uriarte |
| Preceded by | Salvador Jovellanos |
| Succeeded by | Higinio Uriarte |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 28, 1840 Asunción, Paraguay |
| Died | April 12, 1877 (aged 56) Villarrica, Paraguay |
| Nationality | Paraguayan |
| Spouse(s) | María Concepción Díaz de Bedoya |
Juan Bautista Gill García (Juan Bautista Gill Garcia del Barrio) (October 28, 1840 – April 12, 1877) was President of Paraguay from November 25, 1874 to April 12, 1877 and the only Paraguayan President to be assassinated while in office.
He was born in Asunción into a prominent family of Juan Andres Gill and Escolástica Garcia del Barrio y Bedoya. He was grandson of Don Juan Miguel Gill, one of the founding fathers of Paraguayan Independence and a member of the Cabildo, who had Celtic blood. He was married to Maria Concepcion Diaz de Bedoya.
In 1854 he traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina where he pursued secondary education and medical training, which he did not complete. He returned to Paraguay in 1863. When the Paraguayan War was declared against Argentina, he enlisted in the 40th battalion, which comprised young men of high social position. Because of his knowledge of medicine, he was appointed to the military health division and served as medical orderly. Gill was captured in the last days of December 1868 after the Battle of Lomas Valentinas. In mid-January 1869 Gill was among those who returned to Asunción, where the Allies freed him and others on condition that they would not join the army again.
On January 25, 1869 Gill participated in a meeting convened by Don Serapio Machain to petition Allied occupational forces for establishment of a provisional government. Among those who attended that meeting were Jose Segundo Decoud, Cayo Miltos, Carlos Loizaga, Juan Antonio Jara and Salvador Jovellanos, all of whom would soon assume high governmental posts. Gill was supporter of Brazilian interests and counted on their military support during the political struggles. As such, he was in favor of signing Loizaga – Cotegipe Treaty with Brazil.
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