Author Archives: P. C.

Credits

We gratefully acknowledge source materials contributed for this site by: Descendants of Dr. Martinez: Steve and Marie Martinez : Very important source documents from sons of Dr. Martinez, Doctoral Thesis of Dr. Martinez, 1951 biography and geneological tables. Peter C. … Continue reading

Posted in about | Comments Off on Credits

Genealogy

Paul Aviles, who is a descendant of Francisco X. Martinez through his first wife, Rafaela Serrano y Ruiz, has created an online genealogical tree showing ancestry and descendants of Dr Francisco Martinez Aguirre. Note that the default language is Spanish … Continue reading

Posted in Dr. Francisco Xavier Martinez | Comments Off on Genealogy

Alfaro in Ecuador Today

The memory of Eloy Alfaro is kept alive in Ecuador today Centenary Commemorations On the occasion of the Centenary of the events of January 28th, 1912, appropriate ceremonies commemorated the great contributions of Eloy Alfaro, presided over by his great … Continue reading

Posted in Church and State, Historical Survey, Presidents | Comments Off on Alfaro in Ecuador Today

Human Rights and the Concordat

Background Before discussing the serious Human Rights violations of the Concordat of 1862 we should mention that conditions in early 19th century Ecuador were truly extreme. The population was lawless and contentious and deeply divided politically into bitterly contentious factions. … Continue reading

Posted in Church and State | Comments Off on Human Rights and the Concordat

Pope Pius IX

After his original ordination as a priest, Count Mastai-Feretti had been sent by the then Pope Pius VII on a mission to Chile and Peru to assist the Vatican legate in those countries as an auditor.  When the Conclave elected … Continue reading

Posted in Church and State | Comments Off on Pope Pius IX

Biography

Who was Francisco Martinez? Francisco Martinez was a renowned Physician and medical Professor in Ecuador but in mid-life he also became a statesman and a close collaborator of President Eloy Alfaro. In the two critical years before the murder of … Continue reading

Posted in Dr. Francisco Xavier Martinez | Comments Off on Biography

Brief History of Ecuador

Ecuador was made a Colony of Spain after the Spanish conquest in the mid 1500’s. Unlike the experience in Colonial North America, Colonial South America was not a haven for those seeking religious freedom; there was a Spanish Inquisition in … Continue reading

Posted in Historical Survey | Comments Off on Brief History of Ecuador

Martinez and Alfaro

Historical and Biographical Background Dr. Francisco X. Martinez (1850-1917) was a prominent Ecuadorian Surgeon but he also spoke out on public issues confronting Ecuadorian Culture in his times and in later life he became a prominent Statesman.  When he was … Continue reading

Posted in Church and State, Dr. Francisco Xavier Martinez | Comments Off on Martinez and Alfaro

Garcia Moreno

Gabriel Garcia Moreno was the President of Ecuador from 1861 to 1865 and from 1869 to 1875. He was well educated – a chemistry professor – unlike most of the Ecuadorian Presidents who preceeded him, who came from military backgrounds. … Continue reading

Posted in Church and State, Presidents | Comments Off on Garcia Moreno

What is a Concordat?

A concordat is a legal agreement – often characterized as a treaty – between the Vatican under the Roman Catholic Pope and a sovereign nation-state.  Concordats date back to the early middle ages and continue in some localities till the … Continue reading

Posted in Church and State | Comments Off on What is a Concordat?