Carlos Tejedor (politician)
Encyclopedia
Carlos Tejedor was an Argentine
jurist and politician, Governor of Buenos Aires Province
between 1878 and 1880. Tejedor was a prominent figure in the movement against the Federalization of Buenos Aires.
to Antonia Carrero and Antonio Tejedor, in 1817. He enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires
, where he earned a law degree
in 1837, and married Etelvina Ocampo. He became a prominent supporter of the interests of Buenos Aires, and joined Ramón Maza in an 1839 plot against Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas
. The group protested what they saw as too many concessions on the part of Rosas toward other provincial Caudillo
s in order to buttress the fragile Argentine Confederation
. Following Maza's execution, however, Tejedor joined Unitarian Party
leader General Juan Lavalle
, and fled to Chile
, where he resumed his law practice and became a friend and ally of future Chilean President Manuel Montt
.
He returned to Buenos Aires following Rosas' overthrow after the Battle of Caseros
of 1852, and became a central figure in the movement led by Valentín Alsina
against the Federalization of Buenos Aires as the national capital through his position of editor-in-chief of El Nacional. He opposed the San Nicolás Agreement
, Entre Ríos
leader Justo José de Urquiza
's bid for national unity, and plotted the assassination of Urquiza with the Logia Juan-Juan. The attempt on Urquiza a failure, a revolt erupted in Buenos Aires on September 11, 1852, and the latter province became independent of the Confederation for the remainder of the decade. Tejedor then collaborated with Dalmacio Vélez Sarsfield
in the drafting of a Provincial Constitution for Buenos Aires, the following year.
Tejedor negotiated the surrender of Buenos Aires forces at the Battle of Cepeda (1859)
, leading to the Pact of San José de Flores
and to Buenos Aires' recognition of the Argentine Constitution. Tejedor, however, rallied opposition to the treaty, and in particular, its provisions for the federalization of the Buenos Aires Customs
. Ultimately, these disputes led to the Battle of Pavón
(1861), where General Bartolomé Mitre
's victory allowed Tejedor and other Buenos Aires leaders to impose terms for the province's readmission into Argentina.
Following Mitre's 1862 election as President of Argentina
, Tejedor was charged with codifying the nation's penal code. He was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
in 1866, and was appointed Foreign Minister in 1870 by President Domingo Sarmiento. His tenure in the post was highlighted by international boundary negotiations following the War of the Triple Alliance
.
Allegations of electoral fraud
in the elections of 1874, in which Mitre was defeated for the Presidency, led to another revolt by the former president; its prompt defeat led to his exile, however, and Tejedor was sworn in as Congressman in his replacement. Viewed as a die-hard proponent of Buenos Aires privileges by lawmakers from the hinterland, he resigned, and served briefly as director of the National Library of Argentina, and as Ambassador to Brazil
. He accepted the post of Solicitor General for President Nicolás Avellaneda
in 1875, contributing to the advancement of the commercial
and civil code
s. He then served as Dean of the University of Buenos Aires
Law School in 1876 and 1877.
Returning to politics, he was elected Governor of Buenos Aires in 1878, and in 1880, ran for the Presidency in opposition to National Autonomist Party
leader Julio Roca. Winning only in Buenos Aires and Corrientes Province
s, Tejedor organized an uprising, forcing the temporary relocation of Federal Government offices to Belgrano
(then a suburb of the capital). His defeat led to his resignation as governor, and negotiations begun in his stead by Mitre with the victor, President Roca, led to the definitive establishment of Buenos Aires as the nation's capital. He published a memoir of the events, La defensa de Buenos Aires, in 1881, and returned to academia and private law pratice.
Tejedor was again elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1894 for Buenos Aires, serving until 1898. He died in Buenos Aires in 1903, at age 85, and was buried in the La Recoleta Cemetery
. The Carlos Tejedor Partido
of Buenos Aires Province is named after him.
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...
jurist and politician, Governor of Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
between 1878 and 1880. Tejedor was a prominent figure in the movement against the Federalization of Buenos Aires.
Life and times
Tejedor born in Buenos AiresBuenos 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...
to Antonia Carrero and Antonio Tejedor, in 1817. He enrolled at 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...
, where he earned a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
in 1837, and married Etelvina Ocampo. He became a prominent supporter of the interests of Buenos Aires, and joined Ramón Maza in an 1839 plot against Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
. The group protested what they saw as too many concessions on the part of Rosas toward other provincial Caudillo
Caudillo
Caudillo is a Spanish word for "leader" and usually describes a political-military leader at the head of an authoritarian power. The term translates into English as leader or chief, or more pejoratively as warlord, dictator or strongman. Caudillo was the term used to refer to the charismatic...
s in order to buttress the fragile Argentine Confederation
Argentine Confederation
The Argentine Confederation is one of the official names of Argentina, according to the Argentine Constitution, Article 35...
. Following Maza's execution, however, Tejedor joined Unitarian Party
Unitarian Party
Unitarianists or Unitarians were the proponents of the concept of a Unitary state in Buenos Aires during the civil wars which shortly followed the Declaration of Independence of Argentina in 1816. They were opposed to the Argentine Federalists, who wanted a federation of independent provinces...
leader General Juan Lavalle
Juan Lavalle
Juan Galo de Lavalle was an Argentine military and political figure.-Biography:Lavalle was born in Buenos Aires to María Mercedes González Bordallo and Manuel José de La Vallée y Cortés, general accountant of rents and tobacco for the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.In 1799, the family moved to...
, and fled to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, where he resumed his law practice and became a friend and ally of future Chilean President Manuel Montt
Manuel Montt
Manuel Francisco Antonio Julián Montt Torres was a Chilean statesman and scholar. He was twice elected President of Chile between 1851 and 1861.-Biography:...
.
He returned to Buenos Aires following Rosas' overthrow after the Battle of Caseros
Battle of Caseros
The Battle of Caseros was fought near the town of Caseros, more precisely between the present-day train stations of Caseros and Palomar in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, on 3 February 1852, between the Army of Buenos Aires commanded by Juan Manuel de Rosas...
of 1852, and became a central figure in the movement led by Valentín Alsina
Valentín Alsina
*For the city, see Valentín Alsina, Buenos Aires.Valentín Alsina was an Argentine lawyer and politician.Alsina was born in Buenos Aires and studied law at the University of Córdoba. He occupied diverse posts in government, and had a successful civil career as an advocate and professor of law at...
against the Federalization of Buenos Aires as the national capital through his position of editor-in-chief of El Nacional. He opposed the San Nicolás Agreement
San Nicolás Agreement
The San Nicolás Agreement was a pact signed on May 31, 1852 and subscribed by all but one of the 14 provinces of the United Provinces of the River Plate . The treaty consisted of 19 articles, and its goal was to set the bases for the national organization of the young Argentine state...
, Entre Ríos
Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
leader Justo José de Urquiza
Justo José de Urquiza
Justo José de Urquiza y García was an Argentine general and politician. He was president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860.He was governor of Entre Ríos during the government of Juan Manuel de Rosas, governor of Buenos Aires with powers delegated from the other provinces...
's bid for national unity, and plotted the assassination of Urquiza with the Logia Juan-Juan. The attempt on Urquiza a failure, a revolt erupted in Buenos Aires on September 11, 1852, and the latter province became independent of the Confederation for the remainder of the decade. Tejedor then collaborated with Dalmacio Vélez Sarsfield
Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield
Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield was an Argentine lawyer and politician who wrote the Argentine Civil Code of 1869, the vast majority of which remains in use to this day.-Life and times:...
in the drafting of a Provincial Constitution for Buenos Aires, the following year.
Tejedor negotiated the surrender of Buenos Aires forces at the Battle of Cepeda (1859)
Battle of Cepeda (1859)
The Battle of Cepeda of 1859 took place on October 23 at Cañada de Cepeda, Santa Fe, Argentina. The Republic of the Argentine Confederation army, led by Federal Justo José de Urquiza defeated the Province of Buenos Aires forces, led by Unitarian Bartolomé Mitre.-The battle in context:Before the...
, leading to the Pact of San José de Flores
Pact of San José de Flores
The Pact of San José de Flores was a treaty signed between the Argentine Confederation and the State of Buenos Aires on November 11, 1859...
and to Buenos Aires' recognition of the Argentine Constitution. Tejedor, however, rallied opposition to the treaty, and in particular, its provisions for the federalization of the Buenos Aires Customs
Buenos Aires Customs
The Buenos Aires Customs House is a government building and architectural landmark in the Montserrat section of Buenos Aires.-Overview:...
. Ultimately, these disputes led to the Battle of Pavón
Battle of Pavón
The Battle of Pavón was a key battle of the Argentine civil wars fought in Pavón, in Santa Fé Province, Argentina, on September 17, 1861, between the Army of Buenos Aires, commanded by Bartolomé Mitre, and the National Army, commanded by Justo José de Urquiza...
(1861), where General Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre Martínez was an Argentine statesman, military figure, and author. He was the President of Argentina from 1862 to 1868.-Life and times:...
's victory allowed Tejedor and other Buenos Aires leaders to impose terms for the province's readmission into Argentina.
Following Mitre's 1862 election as President of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
, Tejedor was charged with codifying the nation's penal code. He was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
in 1866, and was appointed Foreign Minister in 1870 by President Domingo Sarmiento. His tenure in the post was highlighted by international boundary negotiations following the War of the Triple Alliance
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
.
Allegations of electoral fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
in the elections of 1874, in which Mitre was defeated for the Presidency, led to another revolt by the former president; its prompt defeat led to his exile, however, and Tejedor was sworn in as Congressman in his replacement. Viewed as a die-hard proponent of Buenos Aires privileges by lawmakers from the hinterland, he resigned, and served briefly as director of the National Library of Argentina, and as Ambassador to Brazil
Argentina-Brazil relations
Argentina–Brazil relations are both close and historical, and encompasses all possible dimensions: economy, trade, culture, education and tourism...
. He accepted the post of Solicitor General for President Nicolás Avellaneda
Nicolás Avellaneda
Nicolás Remigio Aurelio Avellaneda Silva was an Argentine politician and journalist, and president of Argentina from 1874 to 1880. Avellaneda's main projects while in office were banking and education reform, leading to Argentina's economic growth...
in 1875, contributing to the advancement of the commercial
Commercial code
Commercial code might refer to:*Commercial code , a set of laws designed to regulate comemrce*Commercial code , a code used in telegraph and telex messages....
and civil code
Civil code
A civil code is a systematic collection of laws designed to comprehensively deal with the core areas of private law. A jurisdiction that has a civil code generally also has a code of civil procedure...
s. He then served as Dean 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...
Law School in 1876 and 1877.
Returning to politics, he was elected Governor of Buenos Aires in 1878, and in 1880, ran for the Presidency in opposition to National Autonomist Party
National Autonomist Party
The National Autonomist Party was an Argentine political party during the 1874-1916 period. Created on March 15, 1874 by the union of the Autonomist Party of Adolfo Alsina and the National Party of Nicolás Avellaneda...
leader Julio Roca. Winning only in Buenos Aires and Corrientes Province
Corrientes Province
Corrientes is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. It is surrounded by : Paraguay, the province of Misiones, Brazil, Uruguay, and the provinces of Entre Rios, Santa Fe and Chaco.-History:...
s, Tejedor organized an uprising, forcing the temporary relocation of Federal Government offices to Belgrano
Belgrano, Buenos Aires
Belgrano is a leafy, northern barrio or neighborhood of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Location :The barrio of Palermo is to the southeast; Nuñez is to the northwest; Coghlan, Villa Urquiza, Villa Ortúzar and Colegiales are to the southwest....
(then a suburb of the capital). His defeat led to his resignation as governor, and negotiations begun in his stead by Mitre with the victor, President Roca, led to the definitive establishment of Buenos Aires as the nation's capital. He published a memoir of the events, La defensa de Buenos Aires, in 1881, and returned to academia and private law pratice.
Tejedor was again elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1894 for Buenos Aires, serving until 1898. He died in Buenos Aires in 1903, at age 85, and was buried in the La Recoleta Cemetery
La Recoleta Cemetery
La Recoleta Cemetery is a famous cemetery located in the exclusive Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It contains the graves of notable people, including Eva Perón, Raúl Alfonsín, and several presidents of Argentina.- History :...
. The Carlos Tejedor Partido
Carlos Tejedor Partido
Carlos Tejedor Partido is a partido in the north-west of Buenos Aires Province in Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of about 11,500 inhabitants in an area of 3,933 km² , and its capital city is Carlos Tejedor.-Settlements:*Carlos Tejedor*Colonia...
of Buenos Aires Province is named after him.