Manuel de Ascásubi

Who was Manuel de Ascásubi?

Manuel de Ascázubi y Matheu served as Vice President of Ecuador from 1847 to 1851 and in that capacity he was also acting President from 10 October 1849 to 10 June 1850.

Don Manuel Ascázubi y Matheu was born in Quito. His parents were Don José de Ascázubi y Matheu and doña Mariana Matheu y Herrera of Quito landed aristocracy. Even though he was the heir to the titles of Marques de Maenza and Conde de Puñonrostro, he sided with the promoters of independence from the Spanish crown. He married Carmen Salinas de la Vega, daughter of Juan de Salinas one the original leaders of the rebellion against Spain.

Due to his involvement in the independence movement he and his family were persecuted both politically and economically by the royalists.

He also served as acting President from 16 May 1869 to 10 August 1869.

He was the brother-in-law of President Gabriel García Moreno. He was a member of the Constitutional Assembly and fought to keep certain conservative principles within it. Between August and October 1875 he was the Minister of the Interior and of Foreign affairs.

Manuel de Ascázubi died in Quito on December 25, 1876.