Jose Santos Zelaya (1 November 1853-17 May 1919) was President of Nicaragua from 25 July 1893 to 21 December 1909, succeeding Joaquin Zavala and preceding Jose Madriz. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Nicaragua.
Biography[]
Jose Santos Zelaya was born in Managua, Nicaragua in 1853, and he was a member of a political family. A member of the Liberal Party of Nicaragua, he became President in 1893, and he enacted progressive reforms such as improved public education, railroads, and steam ship lines. He also enacted constitutional rights that provided for equal rights, property guarantees, habeas corpus, compulsory vote, compulsory education, the protection of arts and industry, minority representation, and the separation of state powers, while he opposed colonialism. In 1894, Zelaya led the annexation of the British Mosquito Coast, which led to the temporary British occupation of Corinto. He was re-elected in 1902 and in 1906, and he negotiated with Germany and Japan to build the Nicaragua Canal in his country. This angered the United States, which backed a rebellion against him in October 1909. Juan Jose Estrada's forces ousted Zelaya from power, and Zelaya turned over power to Jose Madriz before fleeing into exile in Spain. He died in New York City in 1919.