Norberto Ramírez

Who was Norberto Ramírez?

Norberto Ramírez Áreas was a Nicaraguan lawyer and politician. From 20/23 September 1840 to 7 January 1841 he was the 13th President of El Salvador, still technically a state in the Federal Republic of Central America. From 1 April 1849 to 1 April 1851 he was the 24th President of independent Nicaragua.

On 20 September 1840 a revolt of the garrison in San Salvador led by General Francisco Malespín forced the resignation of Ramírez's predecessor, Colonel Antonio José Cañas. After José Damián Villacorta rejected the appointment, Norberto Ramírez took over the government.

In December 1840 a riot broke out in Santiago Nonualco, led by Petronilo Castro. It was soon suppressed by the government.

The following 7 January, Ramírez turned over the office of head of state to Juan Lindo.

Norberto Ramírez was the father of Mercedes Ramírez de Meléndez, whose sons Carlos and Jorge Meléndez were later presidents of the Republic of El Salvador.

From 1849 through 1851, Ramírez was also president of Nicaragua, his native country. The agreements he signed in 1849 laid the foundations for the future Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, under which the United States justified interference in Nicaragua's internal affairs.