15 Facts About Benigno Ferreira

Benigno Asuncion Ferreira was President of Paraguay between the end of 1906 and 1908.

Benigno Ferreira was born January 13,1846, in Mora Cue, a town which nowadays belongs to Limpio, the former Tapua Grande.

Benigno Ferreira's parents were Joaquin Angel Mora Coene and Maria Concepcion Ferreira; their marriage could not be legalized because of a lack of permission from the dictator Francia, then at the end of his life.

Benigno Ferreira had two sisters, Susana and Mercedes.

The entry into the Colegio de San Carlos de Asuncion was forbidden to young Benigno Ferreira by order of Don Carlos Antonio Lopez, president of the republic, as his father was a political opponent.

Benigno Ferreira later moved to Buenos Aires to begin his studies of law at the University of Buenos Aires.

Benigno Ferreira's studies were interrupted by the outbreak of war against Paraguay in 1865.

Benigno Ferreira dealt with three armed revolts in the years '73 and '74.

Benigno Ferreira found upon his return a divided Liberal Party, this time between civics and radicals, the former favorable to political coexistance with the ruling Colorado Party, the latter against it.

Benigno Ferreira led the rebel forces in the civil war in 1904.

Benigno Ferreira's Cabinet was composed of Emiliano Gonzalez Navero as vice-president, Adolfo Soler as Minister of Finance, Manuel Britez as Minister of the Interior, Carlos Isasi in the Ministry of Justice, Guillermo de los Rios as Minister for Religious Affairs and Public Instruction, Manuel Duarte as Minister of War and Navy and Cecilio Baez as Chancellor.

Benigno Ferreira's government established new telegraph lines, the Normal School moved to Villarica and the number of primary schools increased.

Benigno Ferreira closed military courses and built barracks in the towns of the countryside as well as a new building for the capital customs.

The civics, his wing of the Liberal Party, were defeated in 1908 by a coalition of radical Liberals and Colorados, and Benigno Ferreira was forced to resign.

Benigno Ferreira's coffin was transferred directly to the Government Palace in Asuncion for the wake.