Pedro Barriere

Who was Pedro Barriere?

Doctor Pedro Barriere was a Spanish colonial official in the province of El Salvador. After independence from Spain he became the first head of state of El Salvador.

Dr. Barriere entered the service of the colonial government at the end of the eighteenth century, ascending to the rank of lieutenant. His service was distinguished by his loyalty to the royalist cause.

On September 15, 1821, the Act of Independence of Central America was signed in Guatemala City. Barriere replaced General and Doctor José María Peinado as Spanish intendant of El Salvador on the latter's death. Barriere took over the government on September 21, 1821. He was the last colonial intendant of the province and the first governor after independence. He occupied the position until November 28, 1821.

When Manuel José Arce, together with a small group of Salvadoran supporters, asked Intendant Barriere for the election of an economic consultative junta on September 30, 1821, Barriere ordered the arrest of the patriot leaders — Arce, Domingo Antonio Lara, Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Manuel Castillo, Mariano Fagoaga and others. Because he feared popular reaction in El Salvador, they were sent as prisoners to Guatemala, with a strong escort.