Antonio Guzmán Blanco will rule Venezuela as…
1870 CE
Antonio Guzmán Blanco will rule Venezuela as a dictator for the next seven years.
Blanco was born in Caracas as the son of Antonio Leocadio Guzmán, a Venezuelan journalist, politician as well as founder of the Liberal Party and Carlota Blanco Jerez de Aristeguieta.
Banished by the administration of General Julián Castro, he gad accompanied General Juan Crisóstomo Falcón in his invasion of Venezuela, becoming his general secretary.
After the final defeat of Falcón at Cople in September, 1860, Guzmán had accompanied his chief in his flight, and had been sent to the West Indies to solicit assistance.
Toward the end of 1861, he had landed again with Falcón on the coast of Coro, and after numerous engagements, had signed on May 22, 1863, the treaty of Coche, by which arms were laid down, and a general assembly called at Victoria, which had elected Falcón president and Guzmán vice president.
The latter was at the same time secretary of the treasury, and had gone to London to negotiate a loan.
On his return, he had for a short time been in charge of the executive, and afterward had ben elected president of congress.
After the overthrow of Falcón in 1868, Guzmán had left the country, but headed a revolution in 1869, and in 1870 becomes provisional president with extraordinary powers.