Carlos Meléndez (politician)

For other people named Carlos Meléndez, see Carlos Meléndez (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Meléndez and the second or maternal family name is Ramírez.

Carlos Meléndez Ramírez (1 February 1861 – 8 October 1919) was a Salvadoran politician who served as the president of El Salvador from 1913 to 1914 and again from 1915 to 1918. He also served as the president of the Legislative Assembly from 1912 to 1913.

Carlos Meléndez
22nd President of El Salvador
In office 1 March 1915 – 21 December 1918
Vice President	Alfonso Quiñónez Molina
Preceded by	Alfonso Quiñónez Molina
Succeeded by	Alfonso Quiñónez Molina
In office 9 February 1913 – 29 August 1914 Provisional President
Preceded by	Manuel Enrique Araujo
Succeeded by	Alfonso Quiñónez Molina
64th President of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador
In office 29 April 1912 – 1913
Preceded by	Fidel Antonio Novoa Meléndez
Succeeded by	Francisco García de Machón
Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador from San Salvador
In office 1904 – 1905, 1907 – 1910, 1912 – 1914
Personal details
Born	Carlos Meléndez Ramírez 1 February 1861 San Salvador, El Salvador
Died	8 October 1919(1919-10-08) (aged 58) New York City, United States
Political party	National Democratic Party
Spouse	Sara Meza de Meléndez
Parent(s)	Rafael Meléndez Mercedes Ramírez
Relatives	Norberto Ramírez (grandfather)
Occupation	Politician

Early and personal life

Carlos Meléndez Ramírez was born on 1 February 1861 in San Salvador, El Salvador. His parents were Rafael Meléndez and Mercedes Ramírez de Meléndez. His maternal grandfather was Norberto Ramírez, the president of El Salvador from 1840 to 1841. His siblings were Rafael, Francisco, Guillermo, Jorge (who later served as president from 1919 to 1923), Leonor, Carmen, and Sor. His sister Carmen married Alfonso Quiñónez Molina, a physician. Meléndez married Sara Meza de Meléndez but did not have children.^[1]

Political career

From 1904 to 1905, 1907 to 1910, and 1912 to 1914, Meléndez served as a deputy of the Legislative Assembly.^[2] From 29 April 1912 to 1913, Meléndez served as the president of the Legislative Assembly.^[2][3]

Meléndez participated in the 1895 election, running to serve as General Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez's vice president. Meléndez won 18,792 votes, or 30.91 percent, losing to Liberal opponent Prudencio Alfaro.^[4] Meléndez participated in the 1903 election, running to serve as Pedro José Escalón's vice president. Meléndez won 138 votes, or 0.12 percent, coming in last place and losing to Calixto Velado Eduardo.^[5] Meléndez participated in the 1907 presidential election; he won only 8 votes, or 0.01 percent, coming in sixth place and losing to General Fernando Figueroa.^[6]

On 9 February 1913, President Manuel Enrique Araujo was assassinated in San Salvador. As Araujo's vice president, Onofre Durán Santillana, had resigned prior to Araujo's assassination, Meléndez, who Araujo selected as the first designate, became the country's provisional president, serving until 29 August 1914 when he was succeeded by Quiñónez.^[1][7] On 12 January 1915, Meléndez was elected as president of El Salvador unopposed and assumed office on 1 March 1915; Quiñónez was his vice president. In 1918, Meléndez formed the Red League, a paramilitary organization of the National Democratic Party (PDN) to intimidate political opponents.^[7] Meléndez considered the Gulf of Fonseca to be Salvadoran territory due to historical reasons and its geographic configuration.^[8] Under Meléndez, El Salvador remained neutral during World War I.^[9]

Illness and death

On 21 December 1918, Meléndez resigned due to illness and was succeeded by Quiñónez.^[7] In August 1919, Meléndez left El Salvador to the United States to seek treatment for his illness where he died in New York City on 8 October 1919.^[1] His funeral was held the two days later at St. Patrick's Cathedral.^[10] His body was returned to El Salvador on the USS Cleveland protected cruiser, arriving in La Libertad on 5 November 1919.^[1]

Electoral history

Year	Office	Type	Party		Main opponent	Party		Votes for Meléndez				Result	Swing
								Total	%	P.	±%
1895	Vice President of El Salvador	General		Liberal	Prudencio Alfaro		Liberal	18,792	30.91	2nd	N/A	Lost		Hold
1903	President of El Salvador	General		Military	Pedro José Escalón		Conservative	Unknown				Lost		Gain
	Vice President of El Salvador	General		Liberal	Calixto Velado Eduardo		Ind.	138	0.12	9th	–30.79	Lost		Gain
1907	President of El Salvador	General		Liberal	Fernando Figueroa		Liberal	8	0.01	6th	?	Lost		Gain
1915	President of El Salvador	General		PDN	Unopposed			?	100.00	1st	+99.99	Won		Hold