Mariano Baptista

Son of José Manuel Baptista and Petrona Caserta, he studied law at the Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca. He stood out in his youth for his talent and skills as an orator and public speaker.[2] He received his law degree in 1857, but never practiced as a lawyer.

From a very young age, Baptista ventured into journalism. He was founder and director of El Porvenir de Sucre (1855). A militant Catholic, he was director of the Cochabamba Seminary, as well as a professor of History and Literature.[3]

In 1855, despite his young age, he was elected and admitted as a deputy for Chuquisaca.[2] He collaborated with the dictator José María Linares, whom he accompanied in his exile and death later in the year of 1861.[4] During the government of Mariano Melgarejo, he was persecuted and had to emigrate to Europe, where he remained for three years. After Melgarejo was overthrown on January 15, 1871, a Constituent Assembly was formed to decide the future of the nation. From Paris, he applied for representation in the Constituent Assembly of 1871, which he won, prompting his return to Bolivia.[5]

Gregorio Pacheco, undero whom Baptista served as Vicepresident (1884-1888).

During the government of Gregorio Pacheco (1884-1888), he held the first vice presidency of the Republic and the presidency of Congress.[2] However, Baptista would constantly clash in Congress with Pacheco's protégé Atanasio de Urioste Velasco.[10] During the government of Aniceto Arce he was Minister of Foreign Affairs (1888-1891).

At the end of Arce's term, Baptista launched his candidacy for the presidency with the government's support. However, his victory was jeopardized as none of the candidates obtained the necessary majority, so the election had to be decided by Congress. Being evident that Baptista's contender had more supporters in Congress, President Arce declared a state of siege, deported eight Liberal deputies and annulled the credentials of another twenty-one, calling alternates.[2][8] Thus, he obtained a congressional majority and was then able to win the presidency, which he assumed on August 10, 1892.

Francisco Argandoña, the wealthiest man during Batista's presidency.

Already sworn in as president, Baptista lifted the state of siege and promulgated an amnesty that allowed the return of expatriates,[2] including former general and president Hilarión Daza, who, however, was assassinated upon arrival at the Uyuni railway station.[11] One of Baptista's first decrees was the creation of the Banco Francisco Argandoña (Argandoña Bank), through the Law of October 22, 1892.[12] The bank was authorized to issue, discount, loan and deposit currency.[13] The bank was inaugurated the following year, with headquarters in Sucre. Initially a public corporation, years later becomes a Limited Company after having grown rapidly and expanded with branches in Cochabamba, Oruro and Potosí.[12] The bank's owner, Francisco Argandoña, Prince of La Glorieta, was one of the wealthiest men in the country and a brother-in-law to Atanasio de Urioste Velasco, Baptista's rival. Regardless, Argandoña was a key ally to the government.

Baptista encouraged geographical exploration and colonization, being greatly concerned about the further loss of sparsely populated territories. Important expeditions were made to the northeast of the Republic.[2] He continued the works of his predecessor, especially with regard to expanding the road network, and began the construction of the Sucre government palace. He strove to improve public education, creating new schools and setting up arts and crafts establishments under the direction of the Salesian religious order. He founded the universities of Oruro and Potosí (1892).[3]

Baptista tried to carry out a policy of rapprochement with Chile, sending Heriberto Gutiérrez as plenipotentiary minister of Bolivia to Santiago, who signed, together with the Chilean Foreign Minister Luis Barros Borgoño, the Treaty of May 18, 1895 in which Chilean sovereignty over Antofagasta was recognized. The treaty that was provisional until the signing of the 1904 Treaty.[2] He also signed boundary treaties with Argentina (Puna de Atacama), Paraguay (Chaco boreal), Brazil and Peru (Madre de Dios Basin).[8] His term ended in 1896 and he was succeeded by Severo Fernández.