Emilio Emilio Alvarez Lejarza

Background

ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA, Emilio was born on October 25, 1884 in Granada. Son of Doctor Emilio Alvarez y Zelaya and Pacífica Lejarza y Zelaya.

Education

Educated Colegio del Corazón de Jesús, Colegio de Granada, Institute Nacional de Oriente, University de Oriente y Mediodía.

Career

In 1904 (age 20), Álvarez Lejarza received a bachelor"s degree from the Instituto Nacional de Oriente of Granada. While working towards his degree, he taught courses in mathematics and grammar at the same institute. He went on to postgraduate study of law and in 1917 (age 33), he obtained the degree of Doctor en Derecho from the Universidad de Oriente.

He returned to law practice in Nicaragua.

Subsequently, he was appointed a district judge and later became the youngest justice of the Supreme Court of Nicaragua. Among his public offices, he served as extraordinary and plenipotentiary minister to the Republic of Honduras, Minister of Public Education, and Senator of the Republic.

He prepared the "Code of Professional Morals", which was approved by the Technical Council of Public Education on 25 October 1945. He also became director of the Academy of Geography and History.

In 1950 (age 66), he was chosen by the Party as spokesman to negotiate with the Liberals, then in power.

He held discussions directly with President Somoza"s son, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, and was primarily responsible for the resulting Pact of the Generals, referring to the principal signers: General Anastasio Somoza García and General Emiliano Chamorro Vargas. Álvarez Lejarza was the father of Emilio Álvarez Montalván, noted ophthalmologist and political writer He subsequently wrote an essay entitled “Recorrido Histórico de las principales figuras de la familia Chamorro” which presents a brief characterization of several Chamorro family members.

In 1969 (aged 84), Emilio Álvarez Lejarza died on 15 October in Managua, Nicaragua.

Achievements

• Commander of the Order of Isabel the Catholic (Spain) Grand Cross of the Sovereign Imperial Order of Constantine the Great Honorary Consul of Spain in Nicaragua Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, with Grand Medal of Silver (Vatican) Official of the Order of the Quetzal (Guatemala).

Works

• book

  • El Güegüence

    (A Comic ballet in Spanish and Nicaraguan Nahuatl)

Membership

Member, special commission to United States of America, member, commission on codification. Member Academy Nicaragüense de la Historia, Colegio de Abogados de Granada, Cooperador Salcsiano, Acción Católica de Nicaragua (Granada), Society Progreso Educativo (honorary president), Academy de Geografía e Historia.

Connections

Married Juanita Montalván Herdocia de León. And latterly Margarita Chamorro y Zelaya. Children: Emilio, Juanita, Esperanza, Julio, Berta, Margarita, and Pedro José.

Father:

Emilio Alvarez y Zelaya

Mother:

Pacífica Lejarza y Zelaya

Spouse:

Juanita Montalván Herdocia de León

Spouse:

2d Margarita Chamorro y Zelaya

child:

Berta ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA

child:

Esperanza ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA

child:

Emilio ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA

child:

Juanita ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA

child:

Julio ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA

child:

Carmencita ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA

child:

Margarita ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA

child:

Pedro José ÁLVAREZ LEJARZA