Adolfo Ballivián
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Adolfo Ballivián Coll (November 15, 1831 – February 14, 1874) was constitutional president of Bolivia between 1873 and 1874.
Born in La Paz, Adolfo Ballivián was the son of former Bolivian President and war hero José Ballivián. Widely traveled, he was a member of the armed forces, orator, composer, writer, and congressman. In 1873, he was elected President in what were possibly the cleanest elections up to that point in Bolivian history. He benefited from a short "honeymoon" period and then faced the customary obdurate, obstructionist opposition of factionalist politicians. It is in this context that Congress denied Ballivián's urgent request to buy new warships in Europe in order to re-equip the fledgeling, almost non-existent Bolivian Navy, in view of mounting challenges to Bolivian sovereignty in the Pacific by Chile. This congressional denial would be rued by Bolivians in subsequent years, when war finally erupted.
Tragically, President Adolfo Ballivián Coll was stricken with stomach cancer within months of coming to power, and passed away on February 14, 1874. He was constitutionally succeeded by the head of the Council of State, Dr. Tomás Frías.
| Preceded by: Tomás Frías Ametller |
President of Bolivia 1873-1874 |
Succeeded by: Tomás Frías Ametller |
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