Background
José Tadeo Monagas was born in Venezuela on 28 October 1784.
government official politician president
José Tadeo Monagas was born in Venezuela on 28 October 1784.
For several years he sought to bring about the establishment of a separate country in eastern Venezuela.
In 1835-1836 Monagas led a revolt against the government of President José María Vargas, who had been placed in charge by José Antonio Páez. Although that revolution overthrew Vargas, it was defeated when Páez returned and defeated the revolutionary forces, restoring Vargas to power. Monagas was pardoned by the Vargas regime and Páez.
Monagas did not take part in organizing the Liberal Party, although his brother José Gregorio did. José Tadeo was thus acceptable in 1847 as a compromise presidential candidate, and was backed by José Antonio Páez.
Monagas as president from 1847 to 1851 aligned himself with the Liberals and against Páez, and defeated an attempt of Páez in 1848 to overthrow him. At the end of his term in 1851 he successfully supported his brother José Gregorio Monagas as his successor.
At the end of José Gregorio’s term. José Tadeo returned to the presidency. This time, José Tadeo Monagas was overthrown in March 1858 by a coalition of Conservatives and dissident Liberals, headed by General Julián Castro. Shortly afterward, the Federal War (1859-1863) began.
Although the Liberals triumphed in the Federal War, José Tadeo Monagas led a movement, the “Blue Revolution,” against the government of General Juan Cristósomo Falcon. which had resulted from that triumph. Upon taking Caracas in July 1868, Monagas installed a civilian to head a new regime. He died five months later, without ever having reassumed the presidency.