Fernando de la Mora (politician)
Encyclopedia
Fernando de la Mora was one of the founding fathers of the Independence of Paraguay
. He participated in the defense of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
against English Invasions between 1806 and 1807.
Following the consummation of the Paraguayan Independence, he formed a government board chaired by founding father Fulgencio Yegros
, of which Fernando de la Mora was secretary.
Educated man and possessor of an attractive personality, He was part of the small rural elite of Asunción and had social and commercial ties to major patrician families of Buenos Aires
.
(formerly known as Tapúa) in 1773, his parents were Cavalry Captain Fernando de la Mora and Ana del Cazal. Both belonged to families of lineage, descendants of Spanish conquistador Don Domingo Martínez de Irala
.
Fernando received a good education. It is presumed that he studied at the College of San Carlos Asunción
. He studied in Buenos Aires and University of Córdoba
. He also studied Law
becoming one of the most educated citizens of the time.
He was married to Josefa Antonia Cohene, and had five children.
He was introduced to the export trade business, an environment that gave Mora good relationships with his peers and enough responsibility to consolidate these contacts. His father died in 1801, and Fernando took over the management of the family property.
He appeared in the last stages of Paraguayan colonial life. He served with the degree of "alférez" integrating forces in the province of Paraguay highlighted by Bernardo de Velazco to expel the British from Montevideo
, which they occupied in 1807.
He appeared as regent of the City Hall of Asunción towards 1810.
De la Mora was a strong supporter of independence. He maintained an old conspiratorial attitude in favor of the emancipation of Spain. Produced the coup of May 1811, in consideration of his personal virtues, his culture and education, it was crucial to organize the new independent government.
On 17 June 1811 he met the First Congress of emancipated Paraguay. On the proposal of Mariano Antonio Molas, that Congress stripped from all command to Bernardo de Velazco and Huidobro, and created the Senior Governing Board formed with the head of the province's most prestigious man, Colonel Fulgencio Yegros
as president.
As members it included Dr. Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia
, a skilled civilian figure, the young captain Pedro Juan Caballero
representative of the troops that had defeated the invasion of Buenos Aires, a religious man, priest
Francisco Xavier Bogarin
and finally Don Fernando de la Mora, a civilian without restrictions, who was linked to the Paraguayan society.
Soon after he had assumed his duties de la Mora was commissioned to lead a punitive expedition
against Mbaya Indians north of the province. In November 1812 he was sent to the Villa Real of Concepcion
with orders to recover Fort Borbon
which had been occupied by the Portuguese during the riots of Independence. Having noticed the withdrawal of the forces belonging to the strong neighboring Coimbra
, Mora organized the City Hall of Concepcion, created by decree of the Board on 12 November 1812.
In the absence of Mora, at meetings of the Board, and for almost the entire year of 1812 Dr. Francia went on to become the brain of the project. In the knowledge that Mora was an open opponent to his ideas, he responded with a deep antipathy. It accused the intention of joining Paraguay with Buenos Aires and particularly the loss of secret documents from the State. He was referring to the additional article of the treaty of 12 October signed on Asunción with the senator Manuel Belgrano
, which the Triumvirate of Buenos Aires used to unjustifiably apply taxes to Paraguayan tobacco
.
Since the signing of the Treaty of above 12 October serious disagreements arose with Buenos Aires.
, with clear intentions to enter the supreme power of the new Paraguayan Republic and with the presence in the Board of a prestigious civilian like Dr. Fernando de la Mora, illustrated and shrewd man, he started a disqualifying action against his colleagues because, starting with de la Mora, this was the main obstacle to get rid of France, given his status as Doctor of Law.
Indeed he was definitely suspended, in the absence of the person concerned, by resolution of 21 August 1813.
His end was uncertain. Some argue that he possibly died in prison by the year 1835 or maybe after he was released.
While other hypotheses say that Fernando de la Mora might have died chained
Fernando de la Mora left two important documents: the Bando 6 January 1812 and Instruction for the Schoolteacher.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. He participated in the defense of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
against English Invasions between 1806 and 1807.
Following the consummation of the Paraguayan Independence, he formed a government board chaired by founding father Fulgencio Yegros
Fulgencio Yegros
Fulgencio Yegros y Franco de Torres was Paraguayan soldier and first head of state of independent Paraguay.Yegros was born to a family of military tradition and also pursued a military career. He studied in Asunción and joined the army...
, of which Fernando de la Mora was secretary.
Educated man and possessor of an attractive personality, He was part of the small rural elite of Asunción and had social and commercial ties to major patrician families of 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...
.
Childhood and youth
Born in LimpioLimpio
The city of Limpio is located in the Central Department, Paraguay. It was founded on February 2, 1785, by the Friar Luís de Bolaños under the name of San José de los Campos Limpios de Tapúa....
(formerly known as Tapúa) in 1773, his parents were Cavalry Captain Fernando de la Mora and Ana del Cazal. Both belonged to families of lineage, descendants of Spanish conquistador Don Domingo Martínez de Irala
Domingo Martínez de Irala
Domingo Martínez de Irala was a Spanish Basque conquistador.He headed for the Americas in 1535 enrolled in the expedition of Pedro de Mendoza and participated in the founding of Buenos Aires...
.
Fernando received a good education. It is presumed that he studied at the College of San Carlos Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
. He studied in Buenos Aires and University of Córdoba
National University of Córdoba
The National University of Córdoba, , is the oldest university in Argentina, and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is located in Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province. Since the early 20th century it has been the second largest university in the country in terms of the number of students,...
. He also studied 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...
becoming one of the most educated citizens of the time.
His family
De la Mora had five brothers (Mora del Cazal) and a sister Rosa Isabel de la Mora Cazal. She married Mariano Antonio Martínez Viana, who was Congressman in 1811. From their marriage Francisca Carlota Viana de la Mora was born. Among his descendants was Juana Paula Carrillo Viana, wife of Don Carlos Antonio López and mother of Francisco Solano López.He was married to Josefa Antonia Cohene, and had five children.
He was introduced to the export trade business, an environment that gave Mora good relationships with his peers and enough responsibility to consolidate these contacts. His father died in 1801, and Fernando took over the management of the family property.
Public life
In 1802 he was appointed deputy of Asunción by the Consulate of Buenos Aires representing the union of merchants, acting skillfully in this position until 1804. His staying in the port was useful to consolidate his friendship relationships with some of the families of lineage in the city.He appeared in the last stages of Paraguayan colonial life. He served with the degree of "alférez" integrating forces in the province of Paraguay highlighted by Bernardo de Velazco to expel the British from Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, which they occupied in 1807.
He appeared as regent of the City Hall of Asunción towards 1810.
De la Mora was a strong supporter of independence. He maintained an old conspiratorial attitude in favor of the emancipation of Spain. Produced the coup of May 1811, in consideration of his personal virtues, his culture and education, it was crucial to organize the new independent government.
On 17 June 1811 he met the First Congress of emancipated Paraguay. On the proposal of Mariano Antonio Molas, that Congress stripped from all command to Bernardo de Velazco and Huidobro, and created the Senior Governing Board formed with the head of the province's most prestigious man, Colonel Fulgencio Yegros
Fulgencio Yegros
Fulgencio Yegros y Franco de Torres was Paraguayan soldier and first head of state of independent Paraguay.Yegros was born to a family of military tradition and also pursued a military career. He studied in Asunción and joined the army...
as president.
As members it included Dr. Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
200px|right|thumb|José Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaDr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco was the first leader of Paraguay following its independence from Spain...
, a skilled civilian figure, the young captain Pedro Juan Caballero
Pedro Juan Caballero (politician)
Pedro Juan Caballero was a leading figure of Paraguayan independence. He was born in Tobatí a town located in a region called Department Cordillera, Paraguay. Even though he was 6 years younger than Fulgencio Yegros and 20 than Dr...
representative of the troops that had defeated the invasion of Buenos Aires, a religious man, priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
Francisco Xavier Bogarin
Francisco Xavier Bogarin
Among the priests that have an active participation in the process of independence of the Paraguay, Francisco Javier Bogarín is worth mentioning. He was born in Carapeguá, located in Paraguarí Department, 66 kilometers from Asunción, in 1763. He was the eldest of the members of the First Board.His...
and finally Don Fernando de la Mora, a civilian without restrictions, who was linked to the Paraguayan society.
Soon after he had assumed his duties de la Mora was commissioned to lead a punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
against Mbaya Indians north of the province. In November 1812 he was sent to the Villa Real of Concepcion
Concepción, Paraguay
- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
with orders to recover Fort Borbon
Fort Borbon
Fort Borbón is a fort located in the Paraguayan Chaco; it was established to provide protection from the natives and Portuguese. After the Portuguese were expelled by Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, it was changed to its present name Fort Olimpo.-History:...
which had been occupied by the Portuguese during the riots of Independence. Having noticed the withdrawal of the forces belonging to the strong neighboring Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Mora organized the City Hall of Concepcion, created by decree of the Board on 12 November 1812.
In the absence of Mora, at meetings of the Board, and for almost the entire year of 1812 Dr. Francia went on to become the brain of the project. In the knowledge that Mora was an open opponent to his ideas, he responded with a deep antipathy. It accused the intention of joining Paraguay with Buenos Aires and particularly the loss of secret documents from the State. He was referring to the additional article of the treaty of 12 October signed on Asunción with the senator Manuel Belgrano
Manuel Belgrano
Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano , usually referred to as Manuel Belgrano, was an Argentine economist, lawyer, politician, and military leader. He took part in the Argentine Wars of Independence and created the Flag of Argentina...
, which the Triumvirate of Buenos Aires used to unjustifiably apply taxes to Paraguayan tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
.
Since the signing of the Treaty of above 12 October serious disagreements arose with Buenos Aires.
Persecution
Gaspar Rodriguez de FranciaJosé Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
200px|right|thumb|José Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaDr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco was the first leader of Paraguay following its independence from Spain...
, with clear intentions to enter the supreme power of the new Paraguayan Republic and with the presence in the Board of a prestigious civilian like Dr. Fernando de la Mora, illustrated and shrewd man, he started a disqualifying action against his colleagues because, starting with de la Mora, this was the main obstacle to get rid of France, given his status as Doctor of Law.
Indeed he was definitely suspended, in the absence of the person concerned, by resolution of 21 August 1813.
Death
Imprisoned in 1820, nine years after seeing his patriotic dream come true.His end was uncertain. Some argue that he possibly died in prison by the year 1835 or maybe after he was released.
While other hypotheses say that Fernando de la Mora might have died chained
Tribute
The order of 6 October 1923 of the Municipality of Asunción decided to pay tribute to this founding father, instituting his name to the extensive avenue that begins on the streets "General Santos" until "Defensores del Chaco" AvenueFernando de la Mora left two important documents: the Bando 6 January 1812 and Instruction for the Schoolteacher.