por Diego Maria de Noboa y Arteta (1789-1870) was an Ecuadorian hero, politician and merchant who held the presidential chair of Ecuador in 1851. This patriotic character participated in the Revolution of October 9, 1820. On this date, Guayaquil proclaimed its independence from Spain after arrest the governor of the entity. This process began the War of Independence of the Royal Audience of Quito.
In addition, Diego Noboa played a key role in the Marcista Revolution, which marked the end of the government of Juan José Flores, the first president of the Republic of Ecuador. It broke out on March 6, 1845 in Guayaquil. After a hard civil war, Flores is overthrown. A triumvirate formed then formed by Noboa together with José Joaquín de Olmedo and Vicente Ramón Roca.
In the end, after having participated actively in political life and having held high positions in the public administration, he retired. However, his offspring continued to make history in Ecuador.
Among them, two of his great-great-grandchildren stand out: Gustavo Noboa Bejarano and Ernesto Noboa Bejarano. The first was president of the Ecuadorian nation. The second has served as director of the Guayaquil Charity Board in recent years.
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Childhood
The hero and politician Diego Noboa was born in the province of Guayaquil on April 15, 1789. His parents, Ramón Ignacio de Noboa y Unzueta and Ana de Arteta y Larrabeitia, were wealthy landowners.
He studied in the city of Quito. He graduated from high school in one of the two schools preferred by wealthy families, the Colegio de San Luis.
Contact with revolutionary ideas
Being very young, he had to witness decisive moments in Ecuadorian history. One of them were the events of August 10, 1809, considered Ecuador’s first cry for independence.
A year later he experienced one of the bloodiest events in that nation: the Assassination of the Patriots of Quito. All of Hispanic America reacted to this massacre and independence ideas took off.
Diego Noboa returned to Guayaquil at the end of 1813 infected with revolutionary and independence ideas. Soon after, he was appointed Councilor of the City Council.
Rumors of the first struggles for the freedom of the peoples of America reached Guayaquil at that time. The man from Guayaquil identified with the libertarian cause from the beginning.
Guayaquil’s independence
In 1920, he participated in the secret meeting known as “La Fragua de Vulcano”. In it the details of the independence of the city of Guayaquil were prepared.
On October 9, 1820, he accompanied the patriots who proclaimed independence from the Spanish yoke. Later, he also signed the Independence Act.
Period 1820-1845
When the independence of Guayaquil was proclaimed, a Governing Board was formed made up of Olmedo, Jimena and Roca. This board commissioned Diego Noboa to go to Manabí and organize the constitutional regime that had been established in Guayaquil.
On November 8, 1820, the Electoral College of the free province of Guayaquil met, and Noboa was elected deputy for Guayaquil.
Noboa was a supporter of the political independence of the Republic of Guayas. However, in 1822, the Liberator Simón Bolívar ordered the incorporation of the province of Guayaquil to the Republic of Colombia. He was then appointed Departmental Treasurer. In the following years he held other public positions.
Later, during the Peruvian invasion of the Guayaquil port, he served as governor. This occupation took place from February 1 to July 21, 1829.
In 1830 the Republic of Ecuador had already been established. Because of his good relations with Peru, President Juan José Flores sent Diego Noboa to Lima to sign a peace and trade agreement. Although this agreement was ratified by both countries, General Flores ignored it shortly after.
Later, he participated in the Congresses of 1832 and 1833, both meeting in Quito. The next president of Ecuador attended as a senator for the Ecuadorian Congress of the year 1837.
Until then he had shown affinity with the political ideas of President Flores. But later, he was part of the Marcista Revolution in 1845, a movement that overthrew the general and signified a new era in Ecuadorian history.
Period 1845-1851
After the revolution of March 6, 1845, Diego Noboa, José Joaquín de Olmedo and Vicente Ramón Roca formed a provisional government. This triumvirate ruled until December 8 of that year.
Then, Roca was named Constitutional President of the Republic by the National Convention. He ruled until October 15, 1849.
Later, the Congress of the Republic met to elect a new president. When there was no clear winner between Noboa and General Antonio Elizalde, the Congress dissolved. Power was handed over to Colonel Manuel Ascázubi, Vice President of the Republic. Noboa returned to Guayaquil and devoted himself to his personal affairs.
But, General José María Urbina proclaimed him Supreme Chief on March 2, 1950. The provinces of Cuenca and Manabí supported Elizalde, but he declined in favor of national stability.
He then convened a Constituent Assembly. This began his functions on December 8, 1850, naming him Interim President. The assembly sanctions a new constitution and elects him Constitutional President of the Republic.
However, his tenure lasted only four months. At Urbina’s request, General Francisco de Robles arrested him in Guayaquil on July 17, 1851. Urbina had proclaimed himself Supreme Chief. A boat on the Guayas River took Diego Noboa out of the country.
Last days and death
During the first years of the Uribe government, Noboa remained in Peru. In 1855, he returns to his native land, but distances himself from politics. He dies on November 3, 1870.
In life, he had leased his salt mines to the National Treasury. He arranged in his will a quarter of the debt for that lease to be invested in the construction of the Quito national highway.
Also, he allocated part of that money to be used in some charitable work for Guayaquil.
References
Valera, J. (editor). (2014, October 14). Guayaquil Revolution (October 9, 1820). Retrieved on February 9, 2018, from lhistoria.com.
Nuñez Sánchez, J. (2014, March 06). The Marcist Revolution. Retrieving February 10, 2018, from eltelegrafo.com.ec.
Magazine. (2013, November 10). New libertarian blood. Retrieved on February 9, 2018, from larevista.ec.
Lara, AD (1997). The showcase of a country on the world. Quito: Editorial Abya Yala.
Aviles Pino, E. (s/f). Diego Noboa. Retrieved on February 9, 2018, from enciclopediadelecuador.com.
Benites Vinueza, L. (1995). Ecuador: drama and paradox. Quito: Libresa.
Tourism and civic promotion EP. (2015). LIVING Route of the Independence of Guayaquil.
October 9, 1820. Retrieved on February 10, 2018, from guayaquilesmidestino.com.