Rafael Yglesias Castro
| Rafael Yglesias Castro | |
|---|---|
| 16th President of Costa Rica | |
|
In office May 8, 1894 – May 8, 1902 |
|
| Preceded by | José Joaquín Rodríguez |
| Succeeded by | Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 18, 1861 San José, Costa Rica |
| Died | April 10, 1924 (aged 62) San José, Costa Rica |
| Nationality | Costa Rican |
| Political party | Civil |
| Spouse(s) | Rosa Banuet Ross, Manuela Petronila de la Trinidad Rodríguez Alvarado |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Politician |
Rafael Anselmo José Yglesias Castro (April 18, 1861 – April 10, 1924) served as President of Costa Rica for two consecutive periods from 1894 to 1902.
He was born to Demetrio Yglesias Llorente and Eudoxia Castro Fernandez, whose father was also president, the "Founder of the Republic" José María Castro who served two terms, 1847–1849 and 1866–1868. Yglesias traveled to the United States and to Europe to further his education. He also studied law at the university of Santo Tomas, but was unable to complete his studies due to his parents' economic difficulties at the time. He went into business, but did not meet with much success in that arena.
He got married in a civil ceremony to Rosa Banuet Ross, in the capital of Cartago. They had two girls, Berta and Rosa (*official records of this marriage were destroyed in the earthquake of Cartago in 1910). He served as Minister of War (1890-1894). Yglesias and Rosa were divorced due to family pressure, and he married Manuela Petronila de la Trinidad Rodríguez Alvarado, daughter of president José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón (1890-1894). She was a private woman, and did not share his enthusiasm for the political arena. They had a happy domestic partnership, and produced eleven children; Miguel, Eduardo, Luisa, Eudoxia, Bernardo Rafael, Margarita, Maria de los Angeles, Manuel, Jose Maria and Rafael.
In 1894, at the age of 33, Yglesias was elected president by a majority of 23,000, and his election was marked with by largest voter turnout to date. Upon his election, he made official visits to Paris and London. He had an audience with Queen Victoria, for whom he had great respect. Duly impressed by the technological advancements he saw in Europe, he decided to return to Costa Rica and usher his country into the 20th century.
Yglesias’s substantial progress was due mostly to his indefatigable energy and determination, and to the world’s enthusiasm as it stood on the brink of a new century. Yglesias’s presidency can be characterized as the bridge between the old world and the new. His accomplishments were evident in every area; finance, health, education, politics, industry and the arts.
He completed the construction of a national theater (Teatro Nacional), and was present at its inauguration, the opera "Faust", presented by a French company under the auspices of Frederic Aubrey. He established the colon as the unit of currency, and put Costa Rica on the gold standard. He completed the Atlantic to Pacific railway, and built up the coastal town of Puerto Limon. In addition, he set up a department of sanitation in the city.
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