José Batlle y Ordóñez

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Batlle and the second or maternal family name is Ordóñez.

José Batlle y Ordoñez
José Batlle y Ordoñez
19th and 21st President of Uruguay
In office 1 March 1911 – 1 March 1915
Preceded by	Claudio Williman
Succeeded by	Feliciano Viera
In office 1 March 1903 – 1 March 1907
Preceded by	Juan Lindolfo Cuestas
Succeeded by	Claudio Williman
In office 5 February 1899 – 1 March 1899 Acting
Preceded by	Juan Lindolfo Cuestas
Succeeded by	Juan Lindolfo Cuestas
Personal details
Born	(1856-05-21)May 21, 1856 Montevideo, Uruguay
Died	Montevideo, Uruguay
Nationality	Uruguayan
Political party	Colorado Party
Spouse(s)	Matilde Pacheco
Children	César Rafael Lorenzo Amalia Ana Ana Amalia
Occupation	Journalist

José Pablo Torcuato Batlle y Ordóñez (May 21, 1856 – October 20, 1929) was the president of Uruguay in 1899 (interim) and from 1903 until 1907 and for a further term from 1911 to 1915. He was the son of former president, Lorenzo Batlle y Grau. His children César, Rafael and Lorenzo Batlle Pacheco were actively engaged in politics. He was also the uncle of another Uruguayan president, Luis Batlle Berres and the great-uncle of the ex-president, Jorge Batlle.

He and his family are some of the most prominent members of the Colorado Party. He was a prominent journalist, who founded El Día in 1886. As president, Battle presided over the passage of a wide range of reforms in areas such as social security and working conditions.

Economy

During Batlle's second term, he began a new movement and referred to as Batllismo: concerted state action against foreign economic imperialism. During this time he fought for such things as unemployment compensation (1914), eight-hour workdays (1915), and universal suffrage.

All of this brought a great government involvement into the economy. Private monopolies were turned into government monopolies and tariffs were imposed on foreign products, including machinery and raw material imports. The growth of the meat processing industry stimulated the livestock industry, Uruguay's main source of wealth.

Education

Education started a process of great expansion since the mid-to-late 19th century. It became the key to success for the middle class community. The state approved free high school education and created more high schools through the country. The university was also opened to women, and the enrollment increased throughout the country.

President of Uruguay

First term

In 1904 Batlle's government forces successfully ended the intermittent Uruguayan Civil War which had persisted for many years, when the opposing National leader Aparicio Saravia was killed at the battle of Masoller. Without their leader, Saravia's followers abandoned their fight, starting a period of relative peace.

During Batlle y Ordóñez's term in office, religion became a major focus. Uruguay banned crucifixes in hospitals by 1906, and eliminated references to God and the Gospel in public oaths. Divorce laws were also established during this time. He led Uruguay's delegation to the Second Hague Conference and was noted for his peace proposals there.

Second term

In 1913, Batlle proposed a reorganization of the government which would replace the presidency by a nine-member National Council of Administration, similar to the Swiss Federal Council. A variant of this proposal was implemented with the Constitution of 1918.

Post-presidency

In 1920 Batlle killed Washington Beltrán Barbat, a National Party deputy, in a formal duel that stemmed from vitriolic editorials published in Batlle's 'El Día' newspaper and Beltrán's 'El País'. His son Washington Beltrán would become President of Uruguay. He also served twice as Chairman of the National Council of Administration (1921-1923, 1927-1928).

Legacy

A public park and a neighbourhood in Montevideo are named after him.

There is also a town in Lavalleja Department named after him.

See also

• List of political families

External links

• Batlle y Ordóñez and the Modern State
• Batllism
• Reforms in the era of Battlism
• Batlle y Ordóñez and the Modern State

Political offices
Preceded by Juan Lindolfo Cuestas	President of Uruguay Acting 1899	Succeeded by Juan Lindolfo Cuestas
Preceded by Juan Lindolfo Cuestas	President of Uruguay 1903–1907	Succeeded by Claudio Wílliman
Preceded by Claudio Wílliman	President of Uruguay 1911–1915	Succeeded by Feliciano Viera