Gorriti, Juan Ignacio de
GORRITI, JUAN IGNACIO DE
Argentine priest and politician; b. Jujuy, Argentina, 1766; d. Sucre, Bolivia, 1842. After receiving his doctorate in Córdoba, he served in various parishes. Later he was archdean of the Cathedral of Salta and for several years served as chaplain in the army of Belgrano. Gorriti was one of the most able political thinkers in the Argentine independence movement of 1811, winning many capable men to the cause through his political tracts. He was one of the first to support the idea of a federal form of government for the new nation, similar to that of the U.S., but reserving autonomy to the states. He served as deputy to Buenos Aires from Jujuy and later was active as a member of the house of representatives in Salta. In 1829, having changed to the Unitarian party, he was elected governor of Salta. Soon afterward he fled to Bolivia for fear of reprisals by the Federalists. In Bolivia he was protected by Santa Cruz and became rector of the Colegio Junín in Sucre. In exile he wrote his famous Reflexiones on sociology, pedagogy, and government (1836). As a governor, he was concerned with the general well-being of the people and with furthering public education. He was an effective political orator and an excellent preacher.
Bibliography: j. i. de gorriti, Papeles del Dr. Juan Ignacio de Gorriti, ed. m. a. vergara (Jujuy, Arg. 1936).
[m. a. vergara]