Career
Esquivel became a naturalized Costa Rican in 1869. He was also a lawyer and a university professor After his presidential term, he served as the chief justice of the Supreme Court, from 1917 to 1920.
He first ran for the presidency in 1889 but was defeated by José Joaquín Rodríguez.
This was his second presidential bid and 1902 saw the start of his only presidency. His government had to assume a nation with a still weak and little developed economy.
However, his government managed to advance the development of the railroad to the pacific and the establishment of the lyrics of the national hymn.