DIEGO NOBOA: BIOGRAPHY - HISTORY - 2025

Diego María de Noboa y Arteta (1789-1870) was an Ecuadorian hero, politician and merchant who held the presidential chair of Ecuador in 1851. This patriotic character participated in the Revolution of October 9, 1820. On this date, Guayaquil proclaimed its independence from Spain after capturing the governor of the entity. This process began the War of Independence of the Royal Audience of Quito.

In addition, Diego Noboa played a key role in the Marcista Revolution, which marked the end of the government of Juan José Flores, the first president of the Republic of Ecuador. It exploded on March 6, 1845 in Guayaquil. After a tough civil war, Flores is overthrown. A triumvirate formed by Noboa together with José Joaquín de Olmedo and Vicente Ramón Roca was formed.

In the end, after having participated actively in political life and having held high positions in the public administration, he retired. However, his offspring continued to make history in Ecuador.

Among them, two of his great-great-grandsons stand out: Gustavo Noboa Bejarano and Ernesto Noboa Bejarano. The first was president of the Ecuadorian nation. The second has served as director of the Guayaquil Charity Board in recent years.

Childhood

The hero and politician Diego Noboa was born in the province of Guayaquil on April 15, 1789. His parents, Ramón Ignacio de Noboa y Unzueta and Ana de Arteta y Larrabeitia, were wealthy landowners.

He studied in the city of Quito. He graduated from high school in one of the two colleges preferred by wealthy families, the Colegio de San Luis.

Contact with revolutionary ideas

Being very young, he had to witness decisive moments in Ecuadorian history. One of them was the events of August 10, 1809, considered the first cry for Ecuador's independence.

A year later, he experienced one of the bloodiest events in that nation: the Assassination of the Quiteño Patriots. All of Hispanic America reacted to this massacre and independence ideas took off.

Diego Noboa returned to Guayaquil at the end of 1813 infected with revolutionary and independence ideas. Shortly after, he was appointed Regidor of the City Council.

At Guayaquil at that time the rumors of the first struggles for freedom of the peoples of America arrived. The Guayaquil man identified with the libertarian cause from the first moment.

Guayaquil's independence

In 1920, he participated in the secret meeting known as "The Forge of Vulcano." In it the details of the independence of the city of Guayaquil were prepared.

On October 9, 1820, he accompanied the patriots who proclaimed independence from the Spanish yoke. Later, he also signed the Act of Independence.

Period 1820-1845

When the independence of Guayaquil was proclaimed, a Governing Board was formed made up of Olmedo, Jimena and Roca. This board commissioned Diego Noboa to go to Manabí and organize the constitutional regime that had been established in Guayaquil.

On November 8, 1820, the Electoral College of the free province of Guayaquil met, and Noboa was elected deputy for Guayaquil.

Noboa was a supporter of the political independence of the Republic of Guayas. However, in 1822, the Liberator Simón Bolívar ordered the incorporation of the province of Guayaquil into the Republic of Colombia. He was then appointed Departmental Treasurer. In the following years he held other public positions.

Later, during the invasion of the Peruvians to the Guayaquil port, he served as governor. This occupation took place from February 1 to July 21, 1829.

In 1830 the Republic of Ecuador had already been established. Due to his good relations with Peru, President Juan José Flores sent Diego Noboa to Lima to sign a peace and trade agreement. Although this agreement was ratified by both countries, General Flores was unaware of it shortly after.

Later, he participated in the Congresses of 1832 and 1833, both meeting in Quito. The next president of Ecuador attended as a senator for the Ecuadorian Congress in 1837.

Until then he had shown an affinity with the political ideas of President Flores. But later, he was part of the Marcista Revolution in 1845, a movement that overthrew the general and signified a new era in Ecuadorian history.

Period 1845-1851

After the revolution of March 6, 1845, Diego Noboa, José Joaquín de Olmedo and Vicente Ramón Roca formed a provisional government. This triumvirate ruled until December 8 of that year.

Then, Roca was appointed Constitutional President of the Republic by the National Convention. This ruled until October 15, 1849.

Later, the Congress of the Republic met to elect a new president. When there was no clear winner between Noboa and General Antonio Elizalde, Congress dissolved. Power was handed over to Colonel Manuel Ascázubi, Vice President of the Republic. Noboa returned to Guayaquil and devoted himself to his personal affairs.

But General José María Urbina proclaims him Supreme Chief on March 2, 1950. The Cuenca and Manabí provinces support Elizalde, but he declines in favor of national stability.

He then convened a Constituent Assembly. This begins its functions on December 8, 1850, naming him Interim President. The assembly sanctions a new constitution and elects him Constitutional President of the Republic.

However, his tenure lasted only four months. At Urbina's request, General Francisco de Robles seized him in Guayaquil on July 17, 1851. Urbina had proclaimed himself Supreme Chief. A boat on the Guayas River took Diego Noboa out of the country.

Last days

During the first years of the Uribe government, Noboa remained in Peru. In 1855, he returned to his homeland, but moved away from politics. He died on November 3, 1870.

In life, he had leased his salt mines to the National Treasury. He arranged in his will a quarter of the debt for that lease to be invested in the construction of the national highway of Quito.

Also, he used part of that money to be used in some charity work for Guayaquil.

References

1. Valera, J. (editor). (2014, October 14). Guayaquil Revolution (October 9, 1820). Retrieved on February 9, 2018, from lhistoria.com.
2. Nuñez Sánchez, J. (2014, March 06). The Marcista Revolution. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from eltelegrafo.com.ec.
3. Magazine. (2013, November 10). New libertarian blood. Retrieved on February 9, 2018, from larevista.ec.
4. Lara, AD (1997). The showcase of a country on the world. Quito: Editorial Abya Yala.
5. Avilés Pino, E. (s / f). Diego Noboa. Retrieved on February 9, 2018, from encyclopediadelecuador.com.
6. Benites Vinueza, L. (1995). Ecuador: drama and paradox. Quito: Librea.
7. Tourism and civic promotion EP. (2015). LIVE Route of the Independence of Guayaquil.

   October 9, 1820. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from guayaquilesmidestino.com.