Linares Alcántara, Francisco (1825–1878)

Francisco Linares Alcántara (b. 13 April 1825; d. 30 November 1878), president of Venezuela (1877–1878). Linares Alcántara began his political and military career before the Federal War (1859–1863). He participated in that as a proponent of liberalism and remained a prominent figure in the Liberal Party. In 1873 President Antonio Guzmán Blanco named him first appointee of the republic, and as such he took on the duties of the first magistracy on various occasions.

With Guzmán's support Linares Alcántara was elected president in 1877. He brought together a cabinet composed mostly of civilians, promoted the politics of reconciliation by declaring a general amnesty, and supported freedom of the press and an administrative decentralization of funds destined for construction of public works. During his administration, a reaction against Guzmán, which Linares Alcántara tacitly encouraged, gained strength, and there were calls for a return to the Constitution of 1864. After Linares Alcántara's sudden death, his followers continued to participate in the reaction against Guzmán. The reinstatement of the Constitution of 1864 and the nullification of General Guzmán Blanco's statutes resulted in the Revindicadora (Revindicating Revolution) of December 1878, by which power was returned to Guzmán.

See alsoGuzmán Blanco, Antonio Leocadio; Venezuela, Constitutions.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Francisco González Guinán, Historia contemporánea de Venezuela, vols. 10 and 11 (1954).

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