Background
Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez was born in Bagaces on 16 December 1831.
Tomás Guardia Gutiérrez was born in Bagaces on 16 December 1831.
Costa Rica had been dominated by a conservative, landowning oligarchy, whose feuds tended increasingly to involve the military in politics. Growing impatient over his role as a mercenary of the ruling class, Guardia seized power in April 1870 and was either president or backstage manipulator for the next 12 years.