Hermógenes López

Who was Hermógenes López?

Hermógenes López was a Venezuelan soldier, farmer and acting president of his country between 1887 and 1888, after the resignation of General Antonio Guzmán Blanco as cause of his voluntary exile in Paris.

There is no such information about his childhood, only that was limited to elementary education and farm work. From the arrival of José Tadeo Monagas and José Gregorio Monagas to the presidency, enters to the military activity, being part of the revolutions and battles of this decades, after that returned to his life as farmer. López became military leader of Nirgua in 1858, and participated in the 1862 campaign of Carabobo, that overthrew its head of government, General Marcos López.

López, was the head of Carabobo state after an electoral fight against General Gregorio Cedeño. Also served as president of Yaracuy state. Assumed the presidency of Venezuela on 8 August 1887, because of the retirement of Guzmán Blanco, presiding a transition period, which concluded on 2 July 1888, when Juan Pablo Rojas Paul assumed the presidency.

Hermógenes López's provisional government enjoyed the active cooperation of the Liberal Party and the society.