Mariano Baptista

Mariano Baptista
28th President of Bolivia
In office August 11, 1892 – August 19, 1896
Vice President	Severo Fernández (1892-1896)
Preceded by	Aniceto Arce
Succeeded by	Severo Fernández
6th Vice President of Bolivia
In office September 4, 1884 – August 15, 1888 Serving with Jorge Oblitas
Preceded by	Aniceto Arce
Succeeded by	José Manuel del Carpio
Foreign Minister of Bolivia
In office 1873–1876
President	Aniceto Arce
Preceded by	Melchor Terrazas Virreira
Succeeded by	Jorge Oblitas Mendizábal
In office 1888–1891
President	Adolfo Ballivián Coll
Preceded by	Juan Francisco Velarde
Succeeded by	Serapio Reyes Ortiz
Personal details
Born	Mariano Baptista Caserta July 16, 1832 Calchani, Ayopaya, Cochabamba, Bolivia
Died	March 19, 1907(1907-03-19) (aged 74) Cochabamba, Bolivia
Nationality	Bolivian
Political party	Conservative Party
Alma mater	University of Saint Francis Xavier

Mariano Baptista Caserta (Calchani, July 16, 1832, Calchani – March 19, 1907, Cochabamba) was President of Bolivia during the 1892-96 period. A member of the Conservative Party, he was renowned for his stirring oratorical style.

Political career

President of Bolivia during the 1892-96 period and much more agreeable and less severe than his predecessor Aniceto Arce, Baptista vowed to open up the political process and decompress the climate of mutual mistrust between Liberals and Conservatives. To this end, he proclaimed amnesty and did his best to rule transparently and by the rule of law. However, popular fatigue with the Conservatives' successful efforts at replicating themselves in power eroded his support. His reputation took another serious blow when ex-President Hilarión Daza, who had decided to return to Bolivia from exile to explain his controversial actions during the War of the Pacific, was murdered by his own guards upon entering the country from Chile via railway. His murder was never explained, and no one was punished. Most Bolivians felt that Daza's presence (and willingness to talk) discomforted many old wartime leaders of Conservative persuasion (including Arce) and reopened barely healed wounds. In sum, Daza's murder was hung around Baptista like an albatross for the rest of his life. Meanwhile, the political climate continued to deteriorate, presaging the coming of the end of Conservative rule.

Still, some important international treaties were signed during the Baptista administration, especially with Argentina in regard to the Puna de Atacama, with Paraguay concerning the disputed Chaco region, and others with Brazil and Peru. Baptista was also involved in the signing of the first (preliminary) peace treaty ending the War of the Pacific. He retired from politics after the end of his term and died in 1907 at the age of 74.

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