Juan Crisóstomo Torrico

Who was Juan Crisóstomo Torrico?

Juan Crisóstomo Torrico González was President of Peru during a brief period in 1842. At age 34, he was the youngest ever president of Peru.

In 1820 Torrico González participated in the army of José de San Martín. He subsequently joined the ranks of Agustín Gamarra and participated under his leadership campaigns against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, where the Peruvian forces were defeated in 1841 and Gamarra died in the battle of Ingavi on November 18, 1841.

After Gamarra's death, Manuel Menéndez assumed the presidency of Peru. Torrico González launched a successful coup d'état against Manuel Menéndez and assumed the presidency of Peru. His grab for power was short-lived since Peru was suffering various civil wars and Torrico González was ousted during that same year by Juan Francisco de Vidal.

Torrico González found refuge in Bolivia, where he conspired against Vidal and then against Manuel Ignacio de Vivanco. He returned to Peru after the fall of Vivanco's government in 1844. He was subsequently named Minister of the Economy and Finances during Ramón Castilla's government and later became Peru's ambassador to France under Juan Antonio Pezet.