García Moreno, Gabriel

GARCÍA MORENO, GABRIEL.** - South American politician, 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 had the Jesuits readmitted to the country; they had been driven out in the time of Charles III, king of Spain. Persecuted by Urbina, the leader of the radicals, who had risen in revolt and had declared Noboa deposed and had driven the Jesuits out again, 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 Catholic man, he concerned himself with education and popular welfare, and brought from France ecclesiastics of various orders, both male and female, to found schools and hospitals. He also concluded a concordat with the Holy See (20 Nov. 1863) which secured for the Church a just juridical position. Amid the silence of all the powers, Ecuador alone protested with an energetic note against the occupation of Rome in 1870. His administration was a continuous battle against the hostile political forces tending toward de-Christianization, and for this G. became the object of deep hatred on the part of his enemies, who had him assassinated at the entrance of the cathedral of Quito. After his death, the congress decreed for him the title of regenerator of the fatherland and martyr of Catholic civilization.

Silvio Furlani