Tomás Herculano de Jesús Regalado Romero (7 November 1861 – 11 July 1906) was the president of El Salvador from 14 November 1898 until 1 March 1903. He was a military ruler and gained power by deposing Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez, a man he had previously helped achieve control of the country by taking part in a conspiracy to oust Carlos Ezeta four years earlier. Elected to a four-year term in 1899, he promoted the construction of railways, declared an amnesty for political exiles, and began the construction of the Santa Ana Theater.
Tomás Regalado Romero | |
|---|---|
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| 20th President of El Salvador | |
| In office 14 November 1898 – 1 March 1903 Provisional: 14 November 1898 – 1 March 1899 | |
| Vice President | Francisco Antonio Reyes |
| Preceded by | Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez |
| Succeeded by | Pedro José Escalón |
| Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 1 March 1903 – 11 July 1906 | |
| Preceded by | Fernando Figueroa |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Figueroa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 November 1860 Santa Ana, El Salvador |
| Died | 11 July 1906 (aged 45) Jutiapa, Guatemala |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Concepción González Fortis (m. 1894) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  El Salvador |
| Branch/service | Salvadoran Army |
| Years of service | ? – 1906 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars |
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Biography
Tomás Herculano de Jesús Regalado Romero was born on 7 November 1861 in Santa Ana, El Salvador. His parents were Tomás Regalado and Petrona Romero de Regalado. In 1894, he married Concepción González Fortis, the daughter of ex-Salvadoran President Santiago González Portillo. They had two children: Tomás Regalado González and Marísa Regalado González.[1]
Upon leaving office, he remained active in the Army of El Salvador and was appointed Minister of War by his handpicked successor Pedro José Escalón. During a war against Guatemala in 1906 he led a Salvadoran invasion force and went into battle. Seriously wounded, he soon died on 11 July. His coup d'état led to the dissolution of the Greater Republic of Central America after his government withdrew from it.[2]
Regalado was the last in a series of presidents who had come to power by force during the 19th Century. His peaceful transfer of power to Pedro José Escalón in 1903 allowed for a degree of political stability that persisted until the 1931 Salvadoran coup d'état.