Severo Melgarejo
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January 10, 1842
Helena Allende
Daniel Melgarejo Allende
Margarita Melgarejo Allende
Eulalia Melgarejo Allende
Severo Melgarejo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Severo Miguel Melgarejo Rojas January 10, 1842 |
| Died | March 3, 1905 (aged 63) |
| Spouse(s) | Rosaura Sánchez Helena Allende |
| Children | Alfonso Melgarejo Sánchez Daniel Melgarejo Allende Margarita Melgarejo Allende Eulalia Melgarejo Allende |
| Parent(s) | Mariano Melgarejo Simona Cuenca |
| Occupation | Military officer, Businessman |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Bolivian Army |
| Rank | General |
Severo Melgarejo Rojas (10 January 1842 - 3 March 1905) was a Bolivian military officer, business man and guano magnate. He was the son of the President of Bolivia, Mariano Melgarejo,[1] and woman from the city of Tarija, Simona Cuenca.[2] He was considered a traitor by most Bolivians of his day on account of his taking Chilean citizenship.
Birth and youth
Melgarejo was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, on January 10, 1842. He was the second son of future Bolivian president Mariano Melgarejo. His father was absent throughout the majority of his life so he was raised by his mother. He spent most of his youth in Tarata, where he grew close to Manuel Terrazas, a military officer during the War of the Pacific. The one influence his father did have in his life was his entrance into the Bolivian Army when Melgarejo was fourteen in 1856.
In 1857, his father rose to prominence due to his key role in the overthrow of President Jorge Córdova, after which a grateful José María Linares personally promoted him to the rank of colonel. His father again played a crucial role in the overthrow of the man he had previously aided, President Linares. After which President José María de Achá promoted his father to General. It was during the Achá presidency, Melgarejo graduated from the Military College of the Army in La Paz with the rank of second lieutenant. He was noted, in juxtaposition to his father, as a generous and calm man.[3][4]
Son of the president
Just as Mariano Melgarejo had help toppling Córdova and Linares, he would now directly depose President Achá. With his father now in power, one would think he would have every benefit. However, the only thing his father would do for his son during his presidency was to promote him to colonel,[3] and later general,[5] and marry him to the sister of his mistress, Rosaura Sánchez.[6] Although a general in the Bolivian Army, Melgarejo did not do much and mostly served his father's interests. In reality, Severo Melgarejo had no choice nor say.