President of the Republic of Panama. Ernesto de la Guardia Navarro served as President of Panama from October 1, 1956 until October 1, 1960. After attending the Instituto Nacional, he earned a Masters degree in Business Administration and Finance from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. Prior to his presidency, he served as Consul of Panama in San Francisco, California, USA, Minister of Industry, and Vice President (1945-48) and Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Daniel Chanis. During his presidency, he faced a dispute with the United States government over the discrepancy of wages between United States and Panamanian employees and a bloody student revolt over educational conditions, resulting in El Pacto de la Colina (1958). His administration promoted domestic production of consumer goods and founded the Electoral Tribunal to promote democratic efficiency and to ensure the legitimacy of Panama's leaders. He also funded the purchase and development of San Miguelito. Notably, in 1959, he thwarted a Cuba supported coup attempt by diplomat Roberto Arias and his wife, ballerina Margot Fonteyn. Following his presidency, he founded the newspaper El Pais and directed the weekly magazine Mundo Grafico. He was a member of the Panamanian Academy of Language (a branch of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, an organization of academics and experts who regulate the Spanish language) and served as its director, 1973-79.
President of the Republic of Panama. Ernesto de la Guardia Navarro served as President of Panama from October 1, 1956 until October 1, 1960. After attending the Instituto Nacional, he earned a Masters degree in Business Administration and Finance from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. Prior to his presidency, he served as Consul of Panama in San Francisco, California, USA, Minister of Industry, and Vice President (1945-48) and Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Daniel Chanis. During his presidency, he faced a dispute with the United States government over the discrepancy of wages between United States and Panamanian employees and a bloody student revolt over educational conditions, resulting in El Pacto de la Colina (1958). His administration promoted domestic production of consumer goods and founded the Electoral Tribunal to promote democratic efficiency and to ensure the legitimacy of Panama's leaders. He also funded the purchase and development of San Miguelito. Notably, in 1959, he thwarted a Cuba supported coup attempt by diplomat Roberto Arias and his wife, ballerina Margot Fonteyn. Following his presidency, he founded the newspaper El Pais and directed the weekly magazine Mundo Grafico. He was a member of the Panamanian Academy of Language (a branch of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, an organization of academics and experts who regulate the Spanish language) and served as its director, 1973-79.
Bio by: BluGraver
Gravesite Details
Former Burial Location: President de la Guardia was re-interred in the Iglesia Santuario Nacional.
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Records on Ancestry
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