José María Castro Madriz

Who was José María Castro Madriz?

José María Castro Madriz was a Costa Rican lawyer, academic, diplomat, and politician. He served twice as President of Costa Rica, from 1847 to 1849, and from 1866 to 1868. On both occasions he was prevented from completing his term of office by military coups. During his first administration, on 31 August 1848, he formally declared Costa Rica an independent republic, definitively severing Costa Rica's ties to the moribund Federal Republic of Central America.

Castro was born in Jamaica and educated at the University of León, in Nicaragua, where he graduated as bachelor of philosophy and doctor of law. He occupied many public offices throughout his life, both before and after serving as President. He was the rector of the national University for sixteen years, and served several administrations as cabinet minister and ambassador. He also presided over the judiciary and the legislature, making him the only other Costa Rican besides Ricardo Jiménez to have headed all three branches of the government.