Francisco Solano López
Francisco Solano López Carrillo (24 July 1827 or 1826 – 1 March 1870) was a Paraguayan military officer, politician and statesman who served as President of Paraguay between 1862 and 1870, of which he served mostly during the Paraguayan War (1864–1870). He succeeded his father Carlos Antonio López as the second president of Paraguay. Solano López is the only Paraguayan ruler to have been killed in action. He is one of only two Paraguayans to have received the rank of Marshal, along with José Félix Estigarribia.
Marshal of Paraguay Francisco Solano López | |
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López, c. 1870 | |
| 2nd President of Paraguay | |
| In office 10 September 1862 – 1 March 1870 | |
| Vice President | Domingo Francisco Sánchez |
| Preceded by | Carlos Antonio López |
| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 July 1827 Asunción, Paraguay |
| Died | 1 March 1870 (aged 42) Cerro Corá, Paraguay |
| Resting place | National Pantheon of the Heroes |
| Spouse | Eliza Alicia Lynch |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Paraguay |
| Branch/service | Paraguayan Army |
| Years of service | 1844–1870 |
| Rank | Brigadier General (1845–1862) Divisional general (1862–1865) Marshal-President of the Paraguayan Armies (1865–) |
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| Battles/wars | Platine Wars:
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At a very young age, he served in the Paraguayan Army fighting against Juan Manuel de Rosas in the sporadic hostilities sustained by Paraguay and Argentina during the Platine Wars. After the downfall of Rosas, he became Ambassador of Paraguay, as Minister Plenipotentiary, in several European countries from 1853 to 1855. At his return to Asunción, he was appointed Vice-President of the Supreme Government of his father Carlos, and then assumed the presidency when his father died.
He is one of the most controversial figures in South American history, particularly because of the Paraguayan War, known in the Plate Basin as "the War of the Triple Alliance" (Spanish: la Guerra de la Triple Alianza).
From one perspective, his ambitions were the main reason for the outbreak of the war while other arguments maintain he was a fierce champion of the independence of South American nations against foreign rule and interests. He fought until the very end and was killed in action during the Battle of Cerro Corá, which marked the end of the war.