José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón

Who was José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón?

José Joaquín Rodríguez Zeledón was President of Costa Rica from 1890 to 1894.

Rodríguez was born on 6 January 1837. He studied law at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, but owing to family matters and economic circumstances he had to break off his studies and return to Costa Rica. However, he did eventually graduate with a law degree from the Universidad de Santo Tomás in San José.

He was a prestigious lawyer who had never made any active forays into the country's politics, but he had distinguished himself as the Magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice. For a short time he also occupied the post of Secretary of State in Bernardo Soto's government.

He attained the presidency by being elected with a considerable majority, ushering in a new era for the country that would end with imposed governments.

Rodríguez sought the clergy's support to be able to govern. The liberals became alarmed and decided to support the president, who accepted this group's collaboration, succeeding in beating the Catholic Party in the midterm elections for deputies.

In 1892, he dissolved the Congress, and even as dictator kept the title President.