JOSÉ DE LA TORRE UGARTE: THE AUTHOR OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF PERU - ARTE - 2025

José de la Torre Ugarte (1786-1831) was a jurist and composer born in Peru in March 1786. It was the second facet that made it go down in history when he wrote the lyrics for the National Anthem of Peru. He also held various political positions in the years after the country's independence.

De la Torre had already been practicing his profession for several years when the Liberation Expedition arrived in Huarua. At the age of 34, the jurist joined the independence ranks and even participated in the Lima Campaign. His participation and the esteem that San Martín had for him caused him to be one of those summoned to sign the Act of Independence.

Portrait of José de la Torre Ugarte

In the process of creating national symbols, San Martín called a contest to choose a national anthem. De la Torre was one of the participants and presented his proposal together with the composer José Bernardo Alcedo. San Martín himself decided that the song should become the Anthem of Peru.

In the following years, De la Torre held several different political positions, at a time of great instability. Due to his collaboration with the De la Riva government, the composer was sentenced to death, although the sentence was forgiven. After that, he decided to return to practice his profession.

Birth and first days

José de la Torre Ugarte and Alarcón Manrique came to the world on March 19, 1786, in the town of Ica. His father, José Estanislao de la Torre Ugarte, was a Spaniard who had arrived in Peru a few years earlier and had married Mercedes Alarcón, José's mother.

De la Torre began his studies in an educational center run by the Jesuits. This college, over time, became the renowned San Luis Gonzaga.

Youth

Once the first educational stages were finished, young José continued his training at the University of San Marcos, as an intern student. There, between 1809 and 1812, he took over the Chair of Arts.

When he graduated in canons, a name given to canon law, José de la Torre was authorized to work as a coroner. However, the final exam he had to complete was delayed when Antonio Bedoya, his teacher, passed away. For this reason, he was not able to graduate as a lawyer until fifteen years later, in 1825.

In 1812, De la Torre Ugarte married Manuela del Sacramento, from whom he separated after having three children. Fourteen years later, in 1826, he remarried Juana Manrique de Lara y Vidal.

Liberating Expedition

There is not much information about the ideology of De la Torre during his youth. On the other hand, it is known that when he was already 34 years old he enlisted in the patriotic ranks as soon as San Martín arrived in Huarua. In the ranks of the liberating army he participated in the Lima Campaign.

José de la Torre was one of the participants in the meeting of the Cabildo de Lima that was to decide the independence of Peru. Likewise, he was one of those who signed the Act that proclaimed said independence, on July 15, 1821.

National anthem of Peru

General San Martín called a contest to give the newly independent Peru a national anthem. The call was open to all composers, whether they were professionals or amateurs, as well as to teachers of fine arts.

Finally, 20 proposals were presented, among which was the one developed by José de la Torre and José Bernardo Alcedo. The first had written the lyrics, while the second was the author of the music. Both had previously collaborated in the creation of La Chicha, a patriotic song that had become very famous.

After a first phase, six compositions went to the final, including that of José de la Torre. According to the chronicles, when San Martín heard the composition he was impressed and was clear that it should be the chosen one.

The official premiere of the National Anthem of Peru took place on December 24, 1821, at the Lima theater. For that occasion, the chosen singer was Rosa Merino de Arenas.

Political life

In the same 1821, José de la Torre Ugarte began his political career as part of the government of the protectorate. On the one hand, he held the position of senior officer of the Ministry of War and, on the other, he worked in the secretariat of the liberator José de San Martín.

According to the biographers, San Martín had a great personal opinion about José de la Torre, so he kept him by his side until he left the country in 1822.

Peru then convened its first Constituent Congress and, the following year, José de la Riva became president of the country. De la Torre was also part of that government, in which he held the post of senior officer in the Ministry of War and the Navy.

Death sentence

Despite the declaration of independence, the situation in Peru was quite unstable. The Spanish counterattacked to try to recover the lost territory and, in addition, internal clashes within the Republican side were frequent.

De la Torre accompanied José de la Riva when he had to transfer his government to Trujillo. There he was appointed Secretary of the Senate and was promoted to Colonel.

In this context of internal power struggles, José de la Torre was tried for his membership in the José de la Riva governments. At the trial he was sentenced to death, a penalty for which he was forgiven.

Return to civil life

After the change of government, José de la Riva had to go into exile. De la Torre, for his part, remained in Trujillo, although he made the decision to abandon politics and resume his professional duties.

From Trujillo, he asked the University of San Marcos for permission to take his postponed lawyer exam. On May 14, 1825 he obtained the title and was able to begin to practice. His first job was as a war auditor, a job he carried out until 1828. Later he was appointed by Gamarra, a member of the superior court of Liberty.

Death

Tomb of José de la Torre Ugarte - Source: Fmurillo26 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

At that time, José de la Torre decided to return to political life and was elected deputy. However, he could not get to occupy the position because he died suddenly on September 1, 1831.

At first, he was buried in the Presbitero Matias Maestro cemetery. Later, during the government of Augusto B. Leguía, his remains were transferred to the Pantheon of the Próceres located in the church of the Royal College of San Carlos, today the Cultural Center of the University of San Marcos.

References

1. Tamariz Lúcar, Domingo. The poet of the hymn. Obtained from elperuano.pe
2. Peruvian history. José de la Torre Ugarte. Obtained from historiaperuana.pe
3. Encyclopedia of History. National anthem of Peru. Obtained from encyclopediadehistoria.com
4. Revolvy. José de la Torre Ugarte and Alarcón. Retrieved from revolvy.com
5. Peru Telegraph. The Peruvian National Anthem. Retrieved from perutelegraph.com
6. Congress of the republic. Law that declares March 19 as the anniversary of the birth of José de la Torre Ugarte. Recovered from laws.congreso.gob.pe