Background
Joaquín Crespo was born in Aragua on 22 August 1845.
Joaquín Crespo was born in Aragua on 22 August 1845.
He rose to a certain prominence during the Federal Wars ( 1859—1863), becoming a general in the Federal armies led by Juan Cristósomo Falcon. Subsequently, he became a loyal lieutenant of Antonio Guzmán Blanco.
In 1884 Gusmán Blanco rewarded Crespo by having him chosen president for the two-year term 1884-1886. After Crespo’s period, Guzmán Blanco was elected for his own last two years as chief executive. In 1886 Crespo sought to return to the presidency, but Guzmán Blanco chose Juan Pablo Rojas Paúl, who in turn chose as his successor Raimundo Andueza Palacio.
When President Andueza Palacio sought to illegally extend his term of office in 1892 Joaquin Crespo organized and led the so-called Legalist Revolution, which deposed Andueza and brought Crespo back to the presidency. Crespo called a constitutional convention which more or less restored the Federalist constitution of 1864, which had been abrogated by Guzmán Blanco. Crespo was then elected constitutional president for the 1894-1898 term.
In the 1897 election Crespo’s choice for a successor, General Ignacio Andrade, was confronted by General José Manuel Hernández, “El Mocho,’’ an exceedingly popular figure. Although Hernández may well have won the election, Andrade was officially declared the victor. As a consequence, Hernández revolted soon after Andrade had taken office. General Crespo led the government forces against Hernández and was killed in battle.
