GALLO, ANDRÉS MARÍA

Colombian patriot; b. Tuta, Boyacá, Colombia, Feb. 2, 1791; d. Bogotá, April 14, 1863. He studied in Tunja and Bogotá and graduated in law, Oct. 4, 1815. During the war for independence he served in the republican army, rising from captain to commander of a unit, but after his brief army career he had returned to the university. Gallo was an alcalde in Tunja when the royalist forces regained power in 1816 and condemned him to death for his republican activities. That sentence was canceled. He served as a member of the court of justice and of the legislature in Tunja and as representative from Tunja in the federal congress. He received a doctorate in theology from the University of Santo Tomás in 1818 and was ordained April 25 that same year. As pastor of Ramiriquí he helped provide supplies for Bolívar's troops; he was named chaplain of the military staff and was active in the battle of Pantano de Vargas (July 25, 1819). Later he served as pastor of Viracachá, Firavitoba, Genesano, Guatavita, and Tenza. At various times he served as representative and as senator in the congress. Three times he was proposed for a bishopric: for Pasto, Cartagena, and Pamplona; however, he did not accept a see. In 1856 he was canon of the cathedral of Bogotá, and in 1859 he became vicar-general of the archdiocese. In that position he defended the rights of the Church against the dictator Gen. Tomás C. de Mosquera, while Abp. Antonio Herrán was in exile. Gallo had a reputation as a preacher and often preached on patriotic themes. By keeping up his political activities he became vice president of the senate, but he also acquired many political enemies. He was interested in promoting education in Colombia. He left his memoirs: Reminiscencias del Canónigo doctor Andrés M. Gallo.

Bibliography: j. acosta ortegÓn, "El doctor Andrés María Gallo y su época," Boletín de historia y antigüedades 33 (1946) 477–505.

[j. m. pacheco]