MORAZN, FRANCISCO

born Oct. 3, 1792, Tegucigalpa, Honduras died Sept. 15, 1842, San Jos, Costa Rica president of the United Provinces of Central America (183040) who was the outstanding military and political hero of Central America from 1827 until his death. Self-educated, Morazn began his political career in his native Honduras. In 1827, at age 35, he led the Liberal Party's forces in a revolt against Manuel Jos Arce, first president of the United Provinces (established in 1823). The Liberal forces defeated the Conservative Army in 1829) at Guatemala City, the capital, and in 1830 Morazn was elected president. He introduced many reforms designed to limit the power of the Roman Catholic church, but his administration aroused the anger of Conservatives and he had to devote most of his energy to putting down revolts. By 1839, the end of Morazn's second term, most of the member states had deserted the federation. A Conservative-backed rebel army under Rafael Carrera defeated Morazn at Guatemala City in March 1840, and he went into exile. In 1842 he returned to attempt the restoration of the federation. He attacked and defeated the forces of the Costa Rican dictator Braulio Carillo, but when he tried to follow up this triumph, his forces were quickly routed. Betrayed and captured, Morazn was executed by a firing squad.