GARCIA MORENO, GABRIEL. - South American statesman, b. 24 Dec. 1821 at Guayaquil, d. 6 Aug. 1875 at Quito. He studied at the University of Quito and, while still young, took an active part in the political life of Ecuador. A friend of President Noboa, he secured the readmission to the country of the Jesuits, who had been expelled in the time of Carlo III, king of Spain. Persecuted by Urbina, leader of the radicals, who had risen in revolt, declared Noboa deposed, and expelled the Jesuits anew, G. remained away from Ecuador for some time.
Having returned to his homeland, after a hard struggle he was elected President of the Republic. A deeply devout Catholic, he concerned himself with popular education and welfare, and brought from France ecclesiastics of various Orders, male
and female, to found schools and hospitals. He also concluded a concordat with the S. Sede (20 Nov. 1863), which assured the Church a proper juridical position. Amid the silence of all the powers, Ecuador alone protested in an energetic note against the occupation of Rome in 1870. His administration was a continuous struggle against the adverse political forces tending toward dechristianization, and for this reason G. became the object of profound hatred on the part of his enemies, who had him assassinated at the entrance to the cathedral of Quito. After his death, Congress conferred upon him the title of regenerator of the fatherland and martyr of Catholic civilization.