Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán Biography

Joaquin Eufrasio Guzman served as the President of El Salvador in 1845-1846. Brought up by a conservative Catholic family, Joaquin Eufrasio Guzman became committed to preserving the honor and integrity of his culture and people. After his father re-located the family to El Salvador, Joaquin felt drawn to the honor and tradition of the army, and enlisted in the military as soon as he was able. As Spain relinquished its hold on its former colonies, wars flared up between countries over border disputes. When one of Guzman's colleagues succeeded to the presidency, Guzman was rewarded by a promotion to a high rank in the army. A change in military alliances led to a brief war with Nicaragua. As the president left to fend off the invasion, Guzman's forces were prepared and stepped in to install Guzman as the new head of state. He later fended off an invasion by forces loyal to the former president but then Guzman decided to step down from office. After resigning the presidency, Guzman spent a decade in public service. When the rising star of the revitalized Salvadoran military seized the presidency a decade later, the new leader appointed Guzman to be his vice president. But after the illness of the new president, Guzman became acting head of state for a short period before gracefully retiring from public life.