23 - Garcia Moreno, President of Ecuador 1821-1875 by Augustine Berthe

Explore the fascinating life and legacy of Gabriel Gregorio Fernando José María García y Moreno y Morán de Buitrón, better known as Garcia Moreno, an influential Ecuadorian politician who served as President of Ecuador in the mid-19th century. Known for his conservative and Catholic values, Morenos leadership transformed Ecuador into a beacon of science and higher education in Latin America. Despite facing formidable opposition, he made significant strides in advancing the nations economy and agriculture and was relentless in his fight against corruption, going as far as donating his own salary to charity. However, his presidency was not without controversy, as he was embroiled in a fierce rivalry with liberal stalwart Eloy Alfaro. Morenos life was shrouded in mysticism, with prophesies of his life and death made by the Blessed Virgin Mary to Venerable Mother Mariana in the 1500s. The prophesy foretold of his martyrdom and the subsequent challenges the Catholic Church would face in the centuries to follow.