Antonio Sáenz
Encyclopedia
Antonio Sáenz was an Argentine
statesman, educator and cleric. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán
of July 9, 1816 which declared the Independence of Argentina
. He was the first rector
of the University of Buenos Aires
.
Sáenz was born in Buenos Aires
. He studied at the Real Colegio de San Carlos between 1794 and 1800, gained his degree in 1802, and became a doctor in law
in Chuquisaca
in 1804, having been ordained as a priest some years before. In 1804, he entered the Academia Carolina as a practising lawyer. He became shortly afterwards a teacher of theology, law and philosophy.
In 1805, Sáenz was appointed secretary of the church cabildo
, which brought him into the public eye. His appointment was opposed by the Bishop of Buenos Aires, Benito Lue y Riega, and they fought publicly, culminating in Sáenz's imprisonment and trial. He was freed thanks to the intervention of the city's cabildo. He took part in the revolutionary events of May 1810 and represented San Luis Province
in the 1813 Assembly
. Thanks to his profile and links, he was also part of the Logia Lautaro
.
In 1812 it was Sáenz that found the dead body of Bishop Lue and suspicion was immediately placed on the younger priest, given the two men's history, an accusation he never shook off. The religious authorities sent him to Luján
in a form of exile. He took no further part in church administration.
Sáenz was elected by Buenos Aires to the Tucumán Congress and helped to write the declaration of independence in 1816, in his capacity as President of the Academy of Jurisprudence
. In 1819 he was the Congress' President. He helped to found the University of Buenos Aires and became its first rector in 1821.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
statesman, educator and cleric. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán
Congress of Tucumán
The Congress of Tucumán was the representative assembly, initially meeting in Tucumán, that declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America on July 9, 1816, from the Spanish Empire....
of July 9, 1816 which declared the Independence of Argentina
Argentine Declaration of Independence
What today is commonly referred as the Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9, 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. In reality, the congressmen that were assembled in Tucumán declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America, which is still today one of the legal names of the...
. He was the first rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
.
Sáenz was born in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. He studied at the Real Colegio de San Carlos between 1794 and 1800, gained his degree in 1802, and became a doctor in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Chuquisaca
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
in 1804, having been ordained as a priest some years before. In 1804, he entered the Academia Carolina as a practising lawyer. He became shortly afterwards a teacher of theology, law and philosophy.
In 1805, Sáenz was appointed secretary of the church cabildo
Cabildo (council)
For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...
, which brought him into the public eye. His appointment was opposed by the Bishop of Buenos Aires, Benito Lue y Riega, and they fought publicly, culminating in Sáenz's imprisonment and trial. He was freed thanks to the intervention of the city's cabildo. He took part in the revolutionary events of May 1810 and represented San Luis Province
San Luis Province
San Luis is a province of Argentina located near the geographical center of the country . Neighboring provinces are, from the north clockwise, La Rioja, Córdoba, La Pampa, Mendoza and San Juan.-History:...
in the 1813 Assembly
Asamblea del Año XIII
The Assembly of Year XIII was a meeting called by the Second Triumvirate governing the young republic of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata on October 1812....
. Thanks to his profile and links, he was also part of the Logia Lautaro
Logia Lautaro
The Lautaro Lodge was a revolutionary secret lodge active in Latin American politics in the 19th Century. It was initially known as the Lodge of Rational Knights .Its initial purposes were to apply the goals of the Spanish Enlightenment, and when Spain began the Absolutist Restauration they...
.
In 1812 it was Sáenz that found the dead body of Bishop Lue and suspicion was immediately placed on the younger priest, given the two men's history, an accusation he never shook off. The religious authorities sent him to Luján
Luján
-Places:*Luján, Buenos Aires Province, a city in Argentina*Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina*Luján Partido-People:*Luján Fernández, Argentine supermodel.*Ben Ray Luján, Democratic Congressman from New Mexico.*Daniela Luján, Mexican actress....
in a form of exile. He took no further part in church administration.
Sáenz was elected by Buenos Aires to the Tucumán Congress and helped to write the declaration of independence in 1816, in his capacity as President of the Academy of Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
. In 1819 he was the Congress' President. He helped to found the University of Buenos Aires and became its first rector in 1821.