Francisco de Paula Castañeda
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father Father Francisco de Paula Castañeda | |
|---|---|
 Francisco de Paula Castañeda (ca. 1820) | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 January 1776 |
| Died | March 11, 1832 (aged 56) |
| Party | Patriot, conservative |
| Alma mater | University of Córdoba |
| Occupation | Catholic priest, teacher |
Francisco de Paula Castañeda, (Buenos Aires 1776 - Paraná 1832) also known as Padre Castañeda ("Father Castañeda") and self-dubbed "El Gauchipolítico", was an Argentine political activist, journalist, writer, teacher and Roman Catholic priest who played an important role in the political life of his country during the first years of the new-born Provincias Unidas del Rio de la Plata. A member of the Franciscan Order, Castañeda was a fierce opponent to laicist policies promoted by Minister of State Bernardino Rivadavia.
Born in Buenos Aires from the Spanish businessman Ventura Castañeda and his wife María Andrea Romero Pineda,[1] Francisco Castañeda completed his first studies at Real Colegio de San Carlos, where he graduated in 1790. A member of the Franciscan Order since 1793, Castañeda was ordained priest in Córdoba in 1800. He was shortly after appointed chair of philosophy for the University of Córdoba and later chair of moral theology at the Recoleta monastery in Buenos Aires.[2]
British invasions and May Revolution
During the British invasions of the Rio de la Plata, Castañeda served as chaplain of both Spanish and Catholic Irish troops. A supporter of the Reconquista, he is reputed with helping Irish soldiers to desert and join the Spanish forces.[3]
A strong advocate of the May Revolution, Castañeda made good use of his rhetorical talent in defense of the patriots position in front of his parishioners.[3] His scathing preaching gained him the nickname of "the collector of enemies". Castañeda was the only member of Buenos Aires clergy to preach a sermon on 25 May 1815, the fifth anniversary of the revolution. Ferdinand VII had been restored as King of Spain and the Quadruple Alliance vowed to counter republican and liberal revolutions, and a royalist reaction was feared among the former Spanish colonies in America.[4]
As a teacher, Castañeda established a craft and arts school at the Recoleta monastery in 1817. The school was eventually merged into the University of Buenos Aires in August 1821.[2]