Rafael Reyes

Rafael Reyes Prieto (born December 5, 1849, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Boyacá, Colombia – died February 18, 1921, Bogotá) was commander in chief of the Colombian National Army and President of Colombia (1904-1909).

He dedicated himself to commerce and during his youth, he explored the Amazonian forests to find a direct communication with Brazil. He was minister of Promotion and Comercio under president Rafael Núñez (1892-1894). As commander in chief of the Army he repressed the rises of the Cauca and Panama in 1895. In 1904 he was named president of the Republic. He began to exert a dictatorial power, extended the presidential mandate to 10 years and suppressed the vice-presidency and the Council of State. His attempt to return to the gold standard was insolvent, similar to his attempts to implant other economic reforms. He was overthrown by a coalition of liberals and conservatives in 1909. He died on 18 February 1921 in Bogotá.

In his years as president he received money from the United States as part of the indemnity for Panama. This brought years of progress to Colombia but clearly the North American country got more profit from the Panama Canal. After being president Reyes was exiled from Colombia, after suffering several attempts to kill him.

References

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