How might Buenos Aires honor a Colombian hero? Here stands the Francisco de Paula Santander Person. It is a statue erected in memory of a man of law. He helped shape Colombia.
Francisco de Paula Santander was born in 1792. His birthplace was Villa del Rosario. This town was near Cúcuta. He died in 1840 in Bogotá. Santander lived to be 48 years old.
Santander was a military and political leader. He played a key role in Colombia’s independence. He served as acting President of Gran Colombia. This was between 1819 and 1826. Later, he was elected President of New Granada. He served from 1832 to 1837.
Santander earned the nickname “The Man of the Laws”. He helped lay the legal groundwork for Colombia. He also created the country’s first public education system. Because of this, he is a National Hero.
Santander came from a wealthy family. In 1805, he went to Santa Fe de Bogotá for school. He joined the revolution in 1810. He left his studies to fight for independence.
In 1813, Santander was wounded. He was captured during a civil war. Later, he served under Simón Bolívar. Together, they defended the Cúcuta Valley. For three years, they fought royalist incursions.
After a defeat, Santander joined Venezuelan forces. He served under Bolívar in 1817. He led troops in key battles. These included Paya and Boyacá. These battles helped liberate New Granada.
In 1819, Gran Colombia was created. Santander became Vice-President of Cundinamarca. In 1821, he was elected Vice-President of Gran Colombia. For six years, he acted as president. Bolívar was away on campaigns. Santander used his skills to build the new republic.
Political differences arose between Santander and Bolívar. In 1828, Bolívar accused Santander of plotting against him. Santander was exiled for four years. He spent this time in Europe and the United States.
In 1832, after Gran Colombia dissolved, Santander was elected President of New Granada. He served until 1837. After his presidency, he was a representative for Bogotá. His health declined. He died in 1840.
Santander’s early life shaped his views on education. He saw a lack of public schools. Discrimination kept many from learning. As president, he promoted public schools.
As a law student, Santander witnessed the Revolt of July 20, 1810. This event spurred New Granada’s independence. At 18, he joined the National Guard. He fought against royalist forces.
The statue before you serves as a reminder. Francisco de Paula Santander stood for democracy. He organized victory. His legacy continues to inspire Colombia and beyond. Martín Peltzing created this statue in 1941.