Did you know Gregorio de Laferrere was more than just a name? He was a man of the theater and politics. Gregorio de Laferrere the city bears his name. Let me tell you his story.
Gregorio de Laferrere was born in Buenos Aires in 1867. His mother was from a distinguished Argentine family. His father Alfonso was a wealthy French Argentine landowner. Gregorio grew up with two brothers. He attended the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires. Gregorio wasn’t the most dedicated student. However he showed an early interest in journalism.
In 1888 Gregorio founded El Fígaro with Adolfo Mugica. It was a satirical newspaper where he wrote under the name Abel Stewart Escalada. In 1889 Gregorio visited Paris with his family. They attended the World’s Fair. His father died suddenly during the trip. While in Paris Gregorio discovered his love for theater. He saw Molière’s plays performed by the Comédie Française.
Returning to Argentina Gregorio entered politics. He joined the ruling National Autonomist Party. In 1891 Gregorio became the first Mayor of Morón. It was a newly established town west of Buenos Aires. He won after a tough campaign. He even arrived in disguise for his inauguration. Gregorio resigned in 1892. He approached Hipólito Yrigoyen for an alliance. But it never happened. In 1893 he was elected to the Buenos Aires Province Legislature. He ran on the National Party ticket. In 1897 Gregorio formed the Independent National Party. He was elected to the Lower House of Congress in 1898.
Gregorio was reelected in 1902. The following year he created the Popular Association. It advocated for direct democracy. Gregorio used his family connections to the Officers’ Association. He organized a public forum near their headquarters. There he listened to appeals from the city’s poor.
Writing had been a lifelong hobby for Gregorio de Laferrere. He had never published his work. He was a patron of the San Martín Theatre. His first play ¡Jettatore! premiered in 1904. The comedy became a box office success. President Julio Roca attended the premiere. In 1905 his second play Locos de verano premiered. It was another hit. It ran for eighty consecutive shows.
In 1906 Gregorio secured funding for the Lavardén Dramatic Conservatory. It was the first of its kind in Argentina. His most successful play Las de Barranco premiered in 1908. It ran for 146 performances. In 1921 it was staged in Paris. Gregorio retired from Congress in 1908 to focus on writing.
In 1911 Gregorio produced Los invisibles. It was less successful than his previous works. That same year he joined a real estate venture with Honorio Luque and Pedro Luro. The project was southwest of Buenos Aires. It capitalized on a new railway line. It proved to be modestly successful.
Sadly Gregorio de Laferrere died in Buenos Aires in 1913 at the age of 46. His business partners renamed the settlement in his honor. And that is why this city bears his name. Gregorio de Laferrere a politician playwright and founder. His legacy lives on in this city and in Argentine theater.