Timoteo Menéndez

Timoteo Menéndez (born in Ahuachapán) was a Salvadoran politician. Twice he served as acting head of state of El Salvador, when it was a state within the Federal Republic of Central America (1837 and 1838–39).

He first took over the office from Diego Vigil Cocaña, on May 23, 1837, serving for a little over two weeks, until June 7, 1837. During these days he continued the fight against the cholera epidemic that had struck the country. He also fought Indigenous insurgents at Zacatecoluca and Cojutepeque, who had attacked the garrison at San Vicente. Because of the revolt he suspended constitutional guarantees in the departments of Cuscatlán and San Vicente. Vigil returned to office on May 23.

Once again, on January 6, 1838, Vigil turned over authority to Menéndez, who governed this time for more than a year, until May 23, 1839. On February 24, 1838, the Legislative Assembly merged the municipalities of Asunción and Dolorez Izalco, under the name of Villa Izalco.

On October 28, 1838 Conservative General Rafael Carrera, in command of 600 infantry and 200 cavalry from Guatemala, invaded the State of El Salvador. His forces took the cities of Santa Ana and Ahuachapán, afterwards committing atrocities. Liberal General Francisco Morazán defeated Carrera at Chiquimula, taking prisoners and capturing military equipment.

On February 23, 1839, forces from Honduras and Nicaragua invaded El Salvador. Menéndez named General Morazán general-in-chief of the Salvadoran army. On April 6, 1839, Morazán defeated the invading force in the battle of Espiritu Santo.

In accordance with a legislative decree of April 22, 1839, Menéndez prohibited the circulation of coins named maquiquinas and morlacos.

On May 23, 1839 he turned over power to Colonel Antonio José Cañas.

External links

• (Spanish) Short biography from the Salvadoran government web site