Cristóbal Mendoza: One of the pioneering men to support the independence cry (+Christmas)

Published at: 23/06/2024 08:16 AM

It is 252 years since the birth of Cristóbal Mendoza, politician, lawyer and who served as the first president of Venezuela, after the declaration of independence from the Spanish Empire, in the triumvirate that established the Congress of 1811.

José Cristóbal Hurtado de Mendoza y Montilla was born in Trujillo on June 23, 1772. He received a rich initial education, and at 16 he moved to Caracas to study at university.

He graduated as a Bachelor in Art and Philosophy. Master and later as a law graduate. He traveled to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law and a Doctorate in Civil Law.

Upon his return to Venezuela, Cristóbal Mendoza exercised the laws in Trujillo and Mérida. In the latter city, he was professor of philosophy at the Buenaventura Seminary (now the University of Los Andes). Later he settled in Barinas, where he was elected Mayor of the Cabildo de Barinas.

On April 19, 1810, from Barinas, he was one of the first to support such an independence pronouncement. He was appointed vocal secretary of the local Government Board.

In 1811, he was elected Deputy to Congress for Barinas. However, he did not join when he was appointed principal member of the triumvirate, together with Juan Carlos Escalona and Baltasar Padrón, to exercise the Executive Power of the First Republic.

The activity of Cristóbal Mendoza at the beginning of the First Republic was important. He was part of the Assembly that designed and enacted the first Constitution of Venezuela.

In 1813, during the Admirable Campaign, Simon Bolivar appointed him political governor of Mérida, and then of the province of Caracas.

On October 14 of that year, he formally proposed to the Assembly of the Municipality of Caracas that the title of Liberator be conferred on Simon Bolivar.

This gentleman from Trujillo dedicated his life to supporting just causes for the benefit of all the inhabitants of Venezuela. He defended the indigenous people. He advocated three currencies: Peace, Tranquility and Freedom. His name is recorded in the Declaration of Independence Act of July 5, 1811.

Cristóbal Mendoza died in Caracas on February 8, 1829. He was 56 years old when he died, leaving behind a large and unhappy family.

Mazo News Team