José María Alfaro Zamora
Encyclopedia
José María Alfaro Zamora (March 20, 1799 - June 12, 1856) was the Costa Rica
n Head of State between the periods of 1842 and 1844 as well as 1846 and 1847 and President of Costa Rica between May 1 and May 8, 1847
, Costa Rica on March 20, 1799 to his parents Juan Antonio Alfaro y Arias and María Damiana Zamora y Flores. On May 19, 1825 he married María Josefa Sandoval y Jiménez. With her he fathered José Joaquín Alfaro Sandoval, a daughter who died early in her childhood, and Calixto Alfaro Sandoval.
Alfaro was a farmer and a businessman. He owned lands devoted to coffee plantation and a sawmill in Itiquís near Alajuela. He also participated in a lumber company in Jinotepe
, Nicaragua
.
On September 27, 1842, in a junta convocated by then Head of State Antonio Pinto Soares
, José María Alfaro Zamora was designated Provisional Head of State. During his administration he built the road that connects San José
to Puntarenas
, founded Universidad de Santo Tomás, emitted the 1844 Constitution, and founded the newspaper "Mentor Costarricense". He lost the 1844 elections to Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla
. On November 29, 1844 he gave Oreamuno his office which was meant to last until 1848.
On June 7, 1846 after a coup d'état Alfaro was again declared Provisional Head of State. During this administration Puntarenas was declared a free port, the 1847 Constitution was emitted and a failed diplomatic mission with Nicaragua was launched in an second attempt to sign a border agreement with this country (a previous attempt by Braulio Carrillo in 1838 had also failed). Although he lost the 1847 elections to José María Castro Madriz
he won the office of Vice President for the next term.
In order to comply with the new Constitution, from May 1 to May 8, 1847 he used the title President of the State. On May 8, 1847 he was succeeded by Castro. On May 1847 he became Vice President of the State, but he had to quit months after. Accused of corruption, he was confined to Térraba and later moved to Panama
.
.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n Head of State between the periods of 1842 and 1844 as well as 1846 and 1847 and President of Costa Rica between May 1 and May 8, 1847
Early life and family
Alfaro was born in AlajuelaAlajuela
Alajuela is the second largest city in Costa Rica after the capital, San José. It is also the capital of the namesake province. Because of its location in the Costa Rican Central Valley, Alajuela is nowadays englobed in the conurbation of Great Metropolitan Area...
, Costa Rica on March 20, 1799 to his parents Juan Antonio Alfaro y Arias and María Damiana Zamora y Flores. On May 19, 1825 he married María Josefa Sandoval y Jiménez. With her he fathered José Joaquín Alfaro Sandoval, a daughter who died early in her childhood, and Calixto Alfaro Sandoval.
Alfaro was a farmer and a businessman. He owned lands devoted to coffee plantation and a sawmill in Itiquís near Alajuela. He also participated in a lumber company in Jinotepe
Jinotepe
Jinotepe is a city in Nicaragua, located in Department of Carazo in the South Pacific region of Nicaragua at the municipality of Jinotepe. It borders with Managua, Masaya, Granada, and Rivas.It is a sister city of Santa Cruz, California, United States....
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
Public activities
He served as supply deputy for Alajuela (1825-1827), second mayor of Alajuela (1828), deputy for Alajuela (1829-1831), deputy for Heredia (1834-1836), political leader of the western department (1841) and magistrate of the Judicial Chamber (1841-1842).On September 27, 1842, in a junta convocated by then Head of State Antonio Pinto Soares
António Pinto Soares
António Pinto Soares was Head of State of Costa Rica from September 11 to September 27, 1842.He led the popular uprising that overthrew Francisco Morazán on September 11, 1842, and served as Head of State until September 27, when he peacefully handled power to José María Alfaro.- Early life and...
, José María Alfaro Zamora was designated Provisional Head of State. During his administration he built the road that connects San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
to Puntarenas
Puntarenas
Puntarenas is the capital and largest city in the province Puntarenas, Costa Rica, at the Pacific coast. The eponymous and oddly shaped province has its largest section in the South, far from the capital.Some 100,000 live in the city and close towns...
, founded Universidad de Santo Tomás, emitted the 1844 Constitution, and founded the newspaper "Mentor Costarricense". He lost the 1844 elections to Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla
Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla
Francisco María Oreamuno Bonilla was head of state of Costa Rica from November to December 1844....
. On November 29, 1844 he gave Oreamuno his office which was meant to last until 1848.
On June 7, 1846 after a coup d'état Alfaro was again declared Provisional Head of State. During this administration Puntarenas was declared a free port, the 1847 Constitution was emitted and a failed diplomatic mission with Nicaragua was launched in an second attempt to sign a border agreement with this country (a previous attempt by Braulio Carrillo in 1838 had also failed). Although he lost the 1847 elections to José María Castro Madriz
José María Castro Madriz
First term:8 May 1847 to16 November 1849– Preceded by: José María Alfaro Zamora– Succeeded by: Juan Rafael MoraSecond term:8 May 1866 to1 November 1868– Preceded by: Jesús Jiménez– Succeeded by: ...
he won the office of Vice President for the next term.
In order to comply with the new Constitution, from May 1 to May 8, 1847 he used the title President of the State. On May 8, 1847 he was succeeded by Castro. On May 1847 he became Vice President of the State, but he had to quit months after. Accused of corruption, he was confined to Térraba and later moved to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
.
Aftermath and death
He later returned to Costa Rica but refused to participate in politics. He died in Alajuela on June 11, 1856 due to choleraCholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
.