José Cecilio del Valle

José Cecilio Díaz del Valle (November 22, 1780 – March 2, 1834) was a philosopher, politician, lawyer, and journalist and one of the most important figures in Central America during the transition from colonial government to independence, displaying a wide-ranging expertise in public administration management.[1][2]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Díaz and the second or maternal family name is del Valle.
Jose Cecilio del Valle
President-elect of the Federal Republic of Central America
(Died before taking office)
Preceded byFrancisco Morazán
Succeeded byJosé Gregorio Salazar
Foreign Minister of Mexico
In office
February 22, 1823 – April 2, 1823
MonarchAgustín de Iturbide
Preceded byJose Manuel de Herrera
Succeeded byLucas Alamán
Mayor of Guatemala City
In office
January 1, 1821 – June 1821
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byPedro Molina Mazariegos
Personal details
BornNovember 22, 1780
Choluteca, Honduras
DiedMarch 2, 1834(1834-03-02) (aged 53)
Political partyConservative
SpouseJosefa Valero
Alma materSan Carlos University, Guatemala
ProfessionDiplomat
Lawyer
Signature

Valle nicknamed 'The Wise'[3] was also, one of Central America's founding fathers.[4][5][6]

Personal life

Early years

José Cecilio del Valle was born on November 22, 1780, in the village of Choluteca,[7] located near the Choluteca River. This village belonged to the former province of Tegucigalpa (now Honduras), during the Spanish domination. He was the legitimate son of Jose Antonio del Valle and Gertrudis Díaz del Valle. Both members of the most distinguished Spanish families of the Kingdom of Guatemala. who, therefore, have obtained the main political and military jobs. Their wealth consisted mainly of valuable estates of livestock. But that wasn't enough to provide their favorite son with a good education. Tegucigalpa lacked good schools, the only ones available were supported by private donations. Given this situation, Jose Antonio del Valle had to move his family to Guatemala City, where he hoped young Jose would be better formed. Jose Cecilio was only 9 years old when he arrived in Guatemala.

Education

In Guatemala City he attended the University of San Carlos where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1794. Then in 1799 he earned a degree in civil and canonical law and a licentiate degree in law in 1803. His mentor was Father José Antonio Liendo y Goycochea.

Politics

In 1821 he was elected mayor of Guatemala City, position he held until June (1821). The same year Central America became independent from Spanish rule. Jose del Valle was the one who wrote the Act of Independence of Central America. Up to this date, there is a controversy in relation to this document because del Valle did not sign it. Most historians however, agreed that he was not supposed to sign such document. In 1822 Central America became part of the short lived Mexican Empire under Agustin de Iturbide.

Valle was elected a 'Guatemalan Representative' before the Mexican Congress. On August 27, 1822. Valle was imprisoned along with other representatives on charges of conspiring against the Mexicans. After months in prison (February 1823), he was released and appointed Foreign Minister for the Mexican Government.[8] The same year Central America gained its independence from Mexico. In January 1824 he returned to Guatemala where was part of the second triumvirate that governed the Provinces of Central America.

In 1825 José del Valle ran for president of the Federal Republic of Central America against Manuel José Arce. Apparently won the election after he obtained more votes. But Congress had a different interpretation. The candidates went to second round and Arce was declared winner. Following his defeat, Valle retired from politics and devoted himself to writing.

In 1830 President Francisco Morazán offered him to be ambassador to France, and or the Vice presidency. He declined both and instead went on to become Director of the Economic Society and Director of San Carlos University's Fine Arts department.

Correspondence

Jeremy Bentham and Valle corresponded. Before his death, Bentham sent a lock of his hair to Valle.[9][10]

Death

In 1834 he defeated incumbent Francisco Morazán in the general election but never took over the presidency. He died on the road that leads from the farm "La Concepción" to Guatemala City, on March 2, 1834. Where he was supposed to be treated for an illness. The government decreed three days of mourning after his death. His death was marked by national mourning and bells tolling throughout the Republic, as he was one of the few prominent figures respected by Liberals and Conservatives alike.

Legacy

The Honduran Government awards a medal for distinguished service named "Orden Civil José Cecilio del Valle", and there is a University named after him in Tegucigalpa.[11]

The November 22 is holiday because of his Birthday.[12]

Honduras has featured Valle on its 100 Lempira banknote since 1951.

A later family member of Jose Cecilo was Jorge Del Valle Zamora and was ambassador of Honduras to Mexico in the 20th century.

See also

Further reading
  • Jonathan Harris, 'An English utilitarian looks at Spanish American independence: Jeremy Bentham's Rid Yourselves of Ultramaria', The Americas 53 (1996), 217-33
  • John Lynch, The Spanish American Revolutions 1808-1826 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1986, 2nd ed.)
  • Miriam Williford, Jeremy Bentham on Spanish America (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1980)

References
  1. Reyna, Jose (1978).Hondurenos en la Independencia de Centroamerica . Tegucigalpa: EDISOFF
  2. An English Utilitarian Looks at Spanish-American Independence The Americas, Jonathan Harris (Oct., 1996), Catholic University of America Press pp. 217-233
  3. Honduras & The Bay Islands By Gary Chandler, Liza Prado. p. 100
  4. Político e intelectual centroamericano Archived 2009-05-25 at the Wayback Machine El Heraldo, September 11, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  5. DIPLOMATICO DESTACADO mexicodiplomatico.org. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  6. Jose Cecilio Del Valle: Scholar and Patriot By Franklin D. Parker, The Hispanic American Historical Review, Vol. 32, No. 4 (Nov., 1952), pp. 516-539 Duke University Press
  7. JOSE CECILIO DEL VALLE angelfire.com Republica de Honduras, Retrieved March 19, 2010
  8. Los Cancilleres de México a través de su Historia sre.gob. Retrieved March 19, 2010
  9. Darío, Rubén (1887). "La Literatura en Centro-América". Revista de artes y letras (in Spanish). Biblioteca Nacional de Chile. XI: 591. MC0060418. Retrieved 25 March 2019. En Guatemala había aparecido Valle, un hombre de vastas concepciones, amigo de Jeremías Bentham, con quien se carteaba muy á menudo y quien le envió poco antes de morir un mechón de sus cabellos y un anillo de oro, brillante como el estilo de José Cecilio.
  10. Laura Geggel (11 September 2018). "Oddball Philosopher Had His Mummified Body Put on Display … and Now His Rings Are Missing". Live Science. Retrieved 26 March 2019. We can safely assume that [Guatemalan philosopher and politician] José del Valle received one, as he is featured wearing it in a portrait," Causer said. "Interestingly, on the bookshelf of that portrait is one of Bentham's works, as well as a Spanish translation of Say's 'Traité d'économie politique.' It's a neat, tangible link between Bentham, Say and del Valle.
  11. "Universidad José Cecilio del Valle website". Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  12. November 22
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