Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán

Who was Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán?

Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán was President of El Salvador 15 February 1845 - 1 February 1846.

This Central American statesman was born in Cartago, Costa Rica, in 1801 and died in San Miguel, Salvador, about 1875. In the dissensions between the Federal and Centralist parties, Guzman joined the former, and became lieutenant-colonel. He was elected vice president of Salvador in 1844. with General Malespin as president, and when, in the same year, war was declared with Guatemala, Guzman became acting president, while Malespin commanded the army in person. Afterward, while Malespin was making war on Nicaragua, Guzman pronounced against him, 2 February 1845, and was joined by the greater part of the inhabitants of the capital, and a portion of Malespin's little army. Malespin was deposed, and Guzman assumed the executive office till the end of the presidential term. Malespin, with a force from Honduras, invaded the state, but was defeated and assassinated. Guzman was rewarded by the assembly with the rank of general of division, but favored a free election, and in 1848 delivered the office to his successor, Aguilar. He was several times elected to the legislative assembly, the council of state, and the prefecture of the department where he resided.