Antonio Rivera Cabezas

Who was Antonio Rivera Cabezas?

Antonio Rivera Cabezas was a Liberal Central American lawyer and politician. From July 10, 1823 to October 4, 1823 he was a member of the first executive triumvirate that governed the Federal Republic of Central America. From March 9, 1830 to February 10, 1831 he was head of state of Guatemala.

Rivera was a cadet in the militia, a position reserved for the sons of noble families. He became a lawyer during the Spanish colonial period.

Rivera held many political positions. He was a provincial deputy under the Spanish. He was also a supporter of independence from Spain and one of the signers of the declaration of independence on September 15, 1821. He was a deputy to the first Central American constituent congress. After annexation of Central America to Mexico, he was a deputy to the Mexican congress. He was a member of the governing triumvirate of the federation in 1823, political chief of the department of Guatemala in 1824, secretary of finance of the federation in 1835, and a district judge in 1832 and 1837.

As a member of the triumvirate, on July 1, 1823 he signed the declaration of independence of Central America from Spain, Mexico, and all other countries.