Carlos Antonio López

Who was Carlos Antonio López?

Carlos Antonio López Ynsfrán was the leader of Paraguay from 1841 to 1862.

López was born at Manorá on November 4, 1792, and was educated in the ecclesiastical seminary of that city. He attracted the hostility of the dictator and uncle, José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, and he was forced to keep in hiding for several years. He acquired, however, so unusual a knowledge of law and governmental affairs that, on Francia's death in 1840, he succeeded Francia as the country's leader.

He was briefly secretary of the military junta that ruled the country in the interval after Francia's death from 1840–1841. In 1841, he was chosen as the country's first consul--a post equivalent to that of president--ruling alongside Mariano Roque Alonso. In 1844, he exiled Roque and assumed dictatorial powers. On March 13, 1844; Congress approved the first Paraguayan Constitution—probably the work of Lopez himself. A few months later, Congress changed his post from consul to president, and elected him to the new post for a 10-year term.