José Rosales (politician)
President of El Salvador in 1885
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
José Rosales Herrador (19 March 1827 – 6 April 1891) was a Salvadoran politician, businessman, and military officer who served as President of El Salvador for five days in June 1885. He served as a senator in the Senate of El Salvador from the San Salvador Department on several occasions during the 1870s and 1880s.
José Rosales | |
|---|---|
| |
| President of El Salvador | |
| In office 18 June 1885 – 22 June 1885 Acting President | |
| Preceded by | Fernando Figueroa (provisional) |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Menéndez |
| Member of the Senate of El Salvador from San Salvador | |
| In office 1877, 1881, 1884 – 1885 | |
| 29th & 42nd Mayor of San Salvador | |
| In office 1876 | |
| Preceded by | Rafael Reyes |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Bertis |
| In office 1860 | |
| Preceded by | Escolástico Andrino |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Sifontes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | José Rosales Herrador 19 March 1827 |
| Died | 6 May 1891 (aged 64) San Salvador, El Salvador |
| Spouse | Carmen Ungo |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | El Salvador |
| Branch/service | Salvadoran Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
Early life
José Rosales Herrador was born on 19 March 1827 in San Salvador, Federal Republic of Central America. His parents were Colonel José Rosales y Sáenz and Josefa Herrador. In Rosales' youth, he attended a school run by Franciscans until it was shut down by Central American president Francisco Morazán, after which, Rosales was taught by private tutors from the Morales Villaseñor family.[1][2] Rosales attended university in Guatemala City during the 1840s. Rosales owned various businesses and properties in San Salvador and Chalatenango.[2] Rosales served in the Salvadoran Army and attainted the rank of colonel.[3]
Political career
Rosales served as mayor of San Salvador in 1860 and 1876. He was also a senator in the Senate of El Salvador from the San Salvador Department in 1877 and 1881 and later a deputy to the Constituent Congress in 1883.[3] He was a senator in 1884 and 1885 and served as the Senate's vice president in 1885.[2]
From 18 to 22 June, Rosales served as the acting president of El Salvador as the third presidential designate. He became president after a revolution by Divisional General Francisco Menéndez overthrew presidents Rafael Zaldívar and Divisional General Fernando Figueroa.[2] Rosales signed the Treaty of San Andrés with Menéndez on 19 June, and on 22 June,[4] Rosales formally handed Menéndez the presidency when he marched into San Salvador.[2] He had one of the shortest presidencies in Salvadoran history.[3]
After the revolution, Menéndez appointed Rosales as commander-in-chief of the Salvadoran Army in June.[5] On 4 December, Menéndez appointed Rosales as councilor of state.[2]
Personal life
Rosales married Carmen Ungo. They had no children.[2]
Rosales died in San Salvador, El Salvador on 6 April 1891.[2] In Rosales' will, he allocated 500,000 pesos[a] to build a new hospital in San Salvador.[3] On 13 July 1902, the Salvadoran government inaugurated the new hospital and named it after him: Hospital Rosales.[2][6]
Notes
- The 500,000 Salvadoran pesos allocated by Rosales to build a new hospital in 1891 was worth approximately 4 million United States dollars at the time.[6] This is equivalent to $143,333,333 in 2025.
