Antonio Borrero y Cortázar, born Antonio María Vicente Narciso Borrero y Cortázar (Cuenca, October 29, 1827 – Quito, October 9, 1911) was an Ecuadorian lawyer, politician, writer, and journalist who served as the President of Ecuador from 1875 to 1876. Known for his commitment to constitutionalism and civil liberties, Borrero was also an influential figure in Ecuadorian literature and journalism. He founded several newspapers, including La República and El Centinela, using them to advocate for political reform and decentralization. His notable literary works include a biography of Fray Vicente Solano and a refutation of a pro-García Moreno biography, reflecting his dedication to both intellectual and political life.
Early Life and Education
Antonio María Vicente Narciso Borrero y Cortázar was born on October 29, 1827, in Cuenca, then part of Gran Colombia (modern-day Ecuador). He was born into a prominent family deeply involved in politics. His father, Manuel Borrero Seminario, was a politician and landowner, while his mother, María Francisca Cortázar y Requena, hailed from Bogotá, Colombia. Both sides of his family were distinguished: his paternal grandfather, José María Borrero, represented Azuay in Ecuador’s first Constituent Assembly in 1830, and his maternal grandfather, Francisco Cortázar y Lavayen, was a high-ranking official in the colonial judiciary.
Borrero’s education began at home under the tutelage of his aunt, Ignacia Borrero, who laid the foundation for his intellectual development. At the age of seven, he entered the Colegio-Seminario in Cuenca to study Latin and humanities. By age ten, he had begun studying philosophy, and at thirteen, he started coursework in civil and canon law. Borrero continued his studies at the University of Quito, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in both civil and canon law by the age of 17. At 21, he earned his doctorate in public law from the same institution. His strong legal training prepared him for a career in public service and law.
Political and Legal Career
Borrero’s entry into public life was marked by his intellectual rigor and commitment to liberal ideals. His political career began in journalism, where he used the press as a platform to advocate for reforms. His first newspaper contributions were to El Cuencano, founded by his mentor, Fray Vicente Solano, in 1849. By 1856, Borrero had founded La República, a newspaper that criticized the centralization of power and advocated for greater municipal autonomy.
In 1863, Borrero was elected Vice President of Ecuador under the conservative President Gabriel García Moreno. However, Borrero soon resigned from the post, uncomfortable with the government’s interference in the electoral process. His resignation was seen as an act of integrity, and it earned him both respect and animosity. García Moreno, who once called Borrero the “most arrogant Lucifer,” began persecuting him politically. Despite this, Borrero continued to challenge the administration through journalism and public service.
Borrero’s opposition to García Moreno intensified when he returned to Cuenca and founded El Centinela in 1862, a newspaper dedicated to defending constitutional rights and civil liberties. His critiques of García Moreno’s authoritarian government further positioned him as a key figure in the liberal movement.
Presidency of Ecuador (1875–1876)
Borrero was elected President of Ecuador in October 1875, following the assassination of García Moreno. He assumed office on December 9, 1875, after a sweeping victory that positioned him as a compromise candidate, capable of appealing to both liberals and conservatives. His presidency, however, was fraught with political challenges. Borrero sought to moderate between the liberal and conservative factions, a difficult balance in Ecuador’s polarized political environment.
His administration focused on constitutional reform, upholding civil liberties, promoting freedom of the press, and improving public education, especially in rural areas. One of his notable achievements was renegotiating the country’s external debt and improving infrastructure, particularly roads. He also sought to reform the 1869 Constitution, enacted under García Moreno, but his refusal to call for a Constituent Assembly alienated radical liberals who demanded more immediate constitutional changes.
Borrero’s presidency was cut short by a military coup led by General Ignacio de Veintimilla on December 18, 1876. Borrero was imprisoned and later exiled to Colombia, Peru, and Chile, where he lived for several years before being allowed to return to Ecuador in 1883.
Exile and Later Public Life
During his exile, Borrero lived in Colombia, Peru, and Chile, where he continued his work as a writer and intellectual. He eventually returned to Ecuador in 1883 after the overthrow of Veintimilla. Upon his return, Borrero focused on his legal practice and continued his involvement in public life. From 1888 to 1892, he served as Governor of Azuay, where he was known for his fair and balanced administration. He also served as a member of the Court of Justice and was appointed to the Ecuadorian Academy of Language, reflecting his continued influence as a scholar and legal expert.
Literary Career and Works
In addition to his political career, Borrero made significant contributions to Ecuadorian journalism and literature. His early work in newspapers like El Cuencano (1849) and La República (1856) established him as a critical voice for liberal reform. La República, which he co-founded, was dedicated to advocating for decentralization and criticizing the government’s control over municipal revenues.
In 1862, Borrero founded El Centinela, a newspaper that opposed García Moreno’s authoritarian government and advocated for civil liberties. Later, in 1869, he founded El Constitucional, which directly challenged García Moreno’s re-election campaign. These journalistic endeavors were crucial in shaping Ecuador’s political discourse during a time of significant upheaval.
One of Borrero’s most significant literary contributions was his Refutación del libro titulado ‘García Moreno, presidente del Ecuador, vengador y mártir del derecho cristiano’ (Refutation of the Book Titled ‘García Moreno, President of Ecuador, Avenger and Martyr of Christian Law’). This work, published in response to a hagiographic biography of García Moreno by French priest Alberto Berthe, criticized the glorification of García Moreno’s authoritarian regime and defended constitutionalism. Borrero’s Refutación remains a key document in Ecuadorian historiography, offering a reasoned critique of García Moreno’s legacy.
Borrero also completed a biography of his mentor, Fray Vicente Solano, which was published as part of Solano’s Obras Completas (Complete Works) in 1892. This biography further solidified Borrero’s reputation as a thoughtful writer and intellectual.
Personal Life
In 1854, Borrero married Rosa Lucía Moscoso Cárdenas, with whom he had six children. His family life was marked by both joy and tragedy. Three of his children, including his son Manuel María, died in the conflicts surrounding the overthrow of Veintimilla. These losses deeply affected Borrero, particularly the death of Manuel María during the 1883 battle to recapture Quito from Veintimilla’s forces.
Despite personal hardships, Borrero remained committed to public service and intellectual pursuits throughout his life.
Legacy and Death
Antonio Borrero Cortázar died on October 9, 1911, in Quito, Ecuador. He was 83 years old. Despite the brevity of his presidency, Borrero is remembered as a principled leader who fought for constitutionalism, civil liberties, and political moderation. His legacy as a writer, intellectual, and political figure endures in Ecuadorian history, where he is viewed as a champion of liberal reform and constitutional governance.
Buried in the Cemetery of Cuenca, Borrero’s contributions to Ecuador’s political and intellectual landscape continue to be recognized, particularly for his efforts to balance liberal and conservative forces during a turbulent period in the country’s history.
Timeline of Antonio Borrero Cortázar’s Life
1827
- October 29: Born in Cuenca, Ecuador (then part of Gran Colombia).
1834
- Age 7: Begins his education at the Colegio-Seminario in Cuenca, studying Latin and humanities.
1837
- Age 10: Begins studying philosophy at Colegio-Seminario.
1840
- Age 13: Begins studying civil and canonical law.
1844
- Age 17: Graduates as a Bachelor of Laws (civil and canon law) from the University of Quito.
1848
- Age 21: Earns a doctorate in public law from the University of Quito.
1849
- Begins writing for El Cuencano, a newspaper founded by Fray Vicente Solano.
1854
- Marries Rosa Lucía Moscoso Cárdenas. They would have six children.
1856
- Founds La República, a newspaper advocating decentralization and municipal autonomy.
1857-1858
- Serves as a congressman for the province of Azuay.
1862
- Founds El Centinela, a newspaper critical of President Gabriel García Moreno’s administration and defending constitutional rights.
1863
- August 30: Elected Vice President of Ecuador under García Moreno.
- January 1864: Resigns as Vice President, opposing electoral manipulation by García Moreno.
1869
- Founds El Constitucional, opposing García Moreno’s second bid for the presidency.
1875
- October: Elected President of Ecuador.
- December 9: Takes office as the President of Ecuador.
1876
- December 18: Deposed in a military coup led by General Ignacio de Veintimilla. Imprisoned and later exiled to Colombia, Peru, and Chile.
1883
- Returns to Ecuador after the overthrow of Veintimilla.
1888-1892
- Serves as Governor of Azuay Province.
1892
- Publishes the biography of Fray Vicente Solano in Obras Completas (Complete Works).
1887-1889
- Writes Refutación del libro titulado ‘García Moreno, presidente del Ecuador, vengador y mártir del derecho cristiano’, a critical response to a pro-García Moreno biography.
1911
- October 9: Dies in Quito, Ecuador, at the age of 83.
Selected Works
- “Biografía de Fray Vicente Solano” – A biography of his mentor, Fray Vicente Solano, which was included in Obras Completas (Complete Works) of Solano, published in 1892.
- “Refutación del libro titulado ‘García Moreno, presidente del Ecuador, vengador y mártir del derecho cristiano'” – A critical refutation of a pro-García Moreno biography written by French redemptorist priest Alberto Berthe, defending constitutionalism and opposing the glorification of authoritarianism.
- Various articles in El Cuencano, La República, El Centinela, and El Constitucional – Through these newspapers, Borrero published numerous editorials and articles focused on political reform, decentralization, and civil liberties.
References
- Wikipedia, “Antonio Borrero Cortázar.” Retrieved on October 14, 2024. Click to view.
- Encyclopedia.com, “Borrero y Cortázar, Antonio (1827–1911).” Retrieved on October 14, 2024. Click to view.
- Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel, “Borrero y Cortázar Antonio.” Retrieved on October 14, 2024. Click to view.
- Buscabiografías, “Antonio Borrero Cortázar.” Retrieved on October 14, 2024. Click to view.
- Enciclopedia del Ecuador, “Dr. Antonio Borrero.” Retrieved on October 14, 2024. Click to view.
- Ecured, “Antonio Borrero Cortázar.” Retrieved on October 14, 2024. Click to view.
- El Comercio, “Antonio Borrero y Cortázar.” Retrieved on October 14, 2024. Click to view.