Juan Mora Fernández
Juan Mora Fernández (July 12, 1784 – November 16, 1854) was a Costa Rican teacher and principal who served as Costa Rica's first elected head of state. He was considered a liberal and decided to move the capital from Cartago to Puntarenas. Mora was elected as the first head of state in 1824 (provisional until 1825).
Juan Mora Fernàndez | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Fernández by Lorenzo Fortino | |
| Head of state of Costa Rica | |
| In office 1824/1825–1833 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Mariano Montealegre Bustamante (1824–1825), José Rafael de Gallegos y Alvarado (1825–1829) |
| President of Supreme Court of Costa Rica | |
| In office 1850–1854 | |
| Preceded by | Rafael Ramírez Hidalgo |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Ramírez Hidalgo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 July 1784 San José, Costa Rica |
| Died | 16 November 1854 (aged 70) |
| Political party | Liberal |
He is remembered for instituting land reform, and he followed a progressive course. As a consequence of his land reform structure, he inadvertently created an elite class of powerful coffee barons. Under his tenure he signed the Acta de Indepencia. The barons eventually overthrew one of his later successors, José María Alfaro Zamora.
From 1850 to 1854 he was Magistrate and President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica; he died shortly after he resigned. The first printing press arrived in Costa Rica under his tenture.