JOSÉ FERNÁNDEZ MADRID: BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS DURING HIS PRESIDENCY - HISTORY - 2025

José Fernández Madrid (1789–1830) was a 19th century Colombian lawyer, politician, and physician. He served as president twice during the 1810s. In addition to his political work, he was also a writer of various genres.

Four years after Nueva Granada proclaimed its independence from Spain, Fernández Madrid served as president of the triumvirate that held the reins of the country at the time. He was in that position until the following year.

Culture Bank of the Republic, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1816, New Granada's sovereignty was dangerously vulnerable to the forces of General Pablo Morillo, a royalist who was advancing unstoppably in the reconquest of territories for the crown.

On March 14 he took over the presidency of the nation, but due to the danger Morillo represents, he had to flee to the south where he decided to resign. Morillo granted him forgiveness when he found him and sent him to Spain as an exile, but he never arrived since he stayed in Cuba until 1825.

Then, he held various positions in the Gran-Colombian diplomacy commissioned by Santander and later by Simón Bolívar. He died while serving as Colombian ambassador to London.

Biography

Early years

José Luis Álvaro Alvino Fernández de Madrid y Fernández de Castro was born on February 19, 1789 in Cartagena, then part of the viceroyalty of Nueva Granada, now Colombia.

He was the son of a soldier named Pedro Fernández de Madrid and Rodríguez de Rivas, who was a Creole Spaniard born in Guatemala. His mother, Gabriela Fernández de Castro, was the daughter of a former governor, military and president of the Guatemalan audience, named Diego Fernández de Castro.

Luis Fernández de Madrid, José's paternal grandfather, had also held high positions in the service of the crown. He was a member of the Order of Calatrava and the Royal Council. In addition, he was a judge of the Audiences of Guatemala and Mexico.

Coming from a family loyal to the crown and that had an important record of positions in the service of Spain, José Fernández de Madrid came to the world.

Education

He received the first letters in his hometown. Then his father was given a position in the Royal Mint and had to move to Santa Fe, the capital of the viceroyalty.

So, Fernández went to the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. There he concluded his studies in Humanities that he had undertaken in Cartagena. He also graduated in Canon Law.

In 1803, when José Fernández Madrid was 14 years old, his father died. After receiving his first degree, he returned to the classroom to study Medicine, a career in which he reached the degree of doctor.

Politics

Since 1810 José Fernández Madrid joined the patriotic cause and promoted it in Cartagena, which was consummated in November of the following year. Then he was part of the Cartagena State Congress.

In 1812 he was a member of the Congress of the United Provinces of New Granada. There he stood out for his command of the word and was considered an intellectual by the rest of his fellow congressmen, as well as by public opinion.

Triumvirate and presidency

In 1814 it was resolved that the new nation would be better represented by a triumvirate than by a president. They proceeded to the selection of these three characters, which were: Custodio García Rovira, Manuel Rodríguez Torices and Manuel Restrepo.

When the three were absent, they had to appoint a new committee in which José Fernández Madrid was assigned as president and was accompanied by José María del Castillo and José Camacho.

All three held the interim presidency until March 1815, at which time Garcia returned to office. A year later, the panorama became dark for the patriots due to the firm advance of General Morillo in New Granada.

When Camilo Torres Tenorio left the presidency, Fernández Madrid had to take his place. However, he withdrew to the south and on reaching Popayán presented his resignation.

Capture and exile

Morillo's forces followed the trail of José Fernández Madrid and captured him in Chaparral on July 30, 1816. On that occasion they also arrested his wife, María Francisca de la Roche and his brother Francisco Fernández Madrid, who was a military man.

José Fernández Madrid went to Morillo to request a pardon and avoid the certain death penalty that awaited him. Thanks to the services rendered by his family to the Crown, he was granted forgiveness and embarked for Spain.

This action was considered treason and cowardice by the rest of his compatriots from New Granada, who lost all the respect and admiration they felt for José Fernández Madrid.

On the way to the Old Continent he decided to stay in Cuba. While he remained on the island, he devoted himself to writing and intellectual life. There, in addition, his son named Pedro was born, who followed in his father's footsteps in literature and politics.

Diplomacy

José Fernández Madrid returned to Colombia in 1825. Then he realized that those who once admired him later only saw in him the incarnation of a coward.

Santander decided to give him the position of confidential agent in France one year after his return. In 1827 José Fernández Madrid was entrusted with the Colombian Embassy in England. From his last position, he made very relevant treaties for Colombia in maritime matters.

Death

José Fernández Madrid died on June 28, 1830, while serving as Minister Plenipotentiary in London, England.

Main works as president

The first time that José Fernández Madrid was in charge of the nation (between October 1814 and January 1815) during the triumvirate, the political and military situation in the United Provinces was not as deteriorated as in 1816.

Then, trying to maintain the freedom of the nation, Congress allowed José Fernández Madrid to sign capitulations, since the New Granada forces were weakened and could not defend themselves from Morillo's advance.

Fernández Madrid sent negotiators, but there were no results. That is why after retreating to the south, he resigned and was later arrested.

References

1. En.wikipedia.org. (2019). José Fernández Madrid. Available at: en.wikipedia.org.
2. Banrepcultural Encyclopedia (2019). José Fernández Madrid - Encyclopedia - Banrepcultural. Available at: encyclopedia.banrepcultural.org.
3. Various authors (2019). European-American Illustrated Universal Encyclopedia - Volume XXIII. Barcelona: Hijos de J. Espasa, p.816.
4. Chancellery of the Republic of Colombia. (2018). In the archives of the Foreign Ministry: traces of José Fernández Madrid, one of the first Colombian diplomats in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. Available at: cancilleria.gov.co.
5. Toro and Gisbert, M. and Garcia-Pelayo and Gross, R. (1970). Little Larousse illustrated. Paris: Ed. Larousse, p.1293.