Alberto Lleras Camargo

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Alberto Lleras Camargo

Role / Field:

Colombian politician who served as President twice and led the founding of the OAS.

Born:

1906-07-03

Died:

1990-01-04

Century / Era:

1906s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Alberto Lleras Camargo (3 July 1906 – 4 January 1990) was President of Colombia twice (1945–1946, 1958–1962), and the 1st Secretary General of the Organization of American States (1948–1954). A journalist and liberal party politician, he also served as Minister of Government, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and as Minister of National Education in the administrations of President Alfonso López Pumarejo. He briefly attended the National University of Colombia in Bogotá to study politics, but dropped out later to pursue journalism. Lleras Camargo served as congressman of Colombia. He was also a cousin of later president Carlos Lleras Restrepo.

Career & Major Achievements

He died in 1990 after suffering a long illness. He attended the traditional Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. In 1929, he was elected deputy assemblyman on the Bogotá city council, his first entrance into politics. The following year he became Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Colombian Liberal Party and in 1931, he was elected to the Colombian Chamber of Representatives. That same year, he became the first Liberal to preside over the Chamber in more than forty years.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After Alfonso López Pumarejo was elected President of Colombia in 1934, Lleras Camargo was named Cabinet Secretary. In 1935, he became the Minister of Government, a position he occupied until the end of López Pumarejo's presidential term in 1938. In 1938, he founded the newspaper El Liberal, which promoted López Pumarejo's re-election. In 1941, he returned to and once again presided over the Chamber of Representatives. When López Pumarejo was re-elected president in 1942, he once again named Lleras Camargo the Minister of Government.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1906 (1906-07-03): Birth of Alberto Lleras Camargo — Colombian politician who served as President twice and led the founding of the OAS.
2. 1929: 1929 Milestone — In 1929, he was elected deputy assemblyman on the Bogotá city council, his first entrance into politics.
3. 1931: 1931 Milestone — The following year he became Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Colombian Liberal Party and in 1931, he was elected to the Colombian Chamber of Representatives.
4. 1934: 1934 Milestone — After Alfonso López Pumarejo was elected President of Colombia in 1934, Lleras Camargo was named Cabinet Secretary.
5. 1935: 1935 Milestone — In 1935, he became the Minister of Government, a position he occupied until the end of López Pumarejo's presidential term in 1938.
6. 1938: 1938 Milestone — In 1938, he founded the newspaper El Liberal, which promoted López Pumarejo's re-election.
7. 1941: 1941 Milestone — In 1941, he returned to and once again presided over the Chamber of Representatives.
8. 1942: 1942 Milestone — When López Pumarejo was re-elected president in 1942, he once again named Lleras Camargo the Minister of Government.
9. 1990 (1990-01-04): Passing & Historical Legacy — Alberto Lleras Camargo passed away on 1990-01-04, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Alberto Lleras Camargo

True or False: “Alberto Lleras Camargo was elected to the Colombian Chamber of Representatives immediately after graduating from the National University of Colombia.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He briefly attended the National University of Colombia but later dropped out to pursue journalism.

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