Berrío, Pedro Justo (1827–1875)

Pedro Justo Berrío (b. 28 May 1827; d. 14 February 1875), Antioquian (Colombian) statesman. A leader in the department of Antioquia's struggle for self-determination, Berrío, a native of Santa Rosa de Osos, received his doctorate in law at Bogotá in 1851. He subsequently served in the Antioquian Assembly (1852–1853), as a magistrate (1854), and in the national Congress (1856–1857). A Conservative, he led the partisan forces that in December 1863 overthrew the Liberal regime of Antioquia. Berrío's nearly universal support in the department won his government formal recognition from the national Liberal president, Manuel Murillo Toro, on 18 April 1864. As governor (10 January 1864–7 August 1873), he actively promoted internal improvements such as the Antioquia Railroad. Berrío's importance derives from his success in keeping Antioquia out of the Colombian economic and social turmoil of the 1860s and early 1870s. Antioquia's economy and prosperity expanded considerably during his tenure. Berrío died in Medellín.

See alsoAntigua; Colombia, Political Parties: Conservative Party.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Joaquín Emilio Jaramillo, Vida de Pedro Justo Berrío (1927).

Estanislao Gómez Barrientos, Del Dr. Pedro Justo Berrío y del escenario en que hubo de actuar (1928).

Javier Gutiérrez Villegas, Pedro Justo Berrío (1975).

Additional Bibliography

Villegas Botero, Luis Javier. Las vías de legitimación de un poder: La administración presidida por Pedro Justo Berrio en el estado soberano de Antioquia: 1864–1873. Bogotá: Colcultura, 1996.

                                     J. LeÓn Helguera