Jorge Meléndez
Jorge Meléndez | |
|---|---|
Meléndez in 1919 | |
| 51st President of El Salvador | |
| In office 1 March 1919 – 1 March 1923 | |
| Vice President | Alfonso Quiñónez Molina |
| Preceded by | Alfonso Quiñónez Molina (provisional) |
| Succeeded by | Alfonso Quiñónez Molina |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jorge Meléndez Ramírez 15 April 1871 San Salvador, El Salvador |
| Died | 22 November 1953 (aged 82) San Salvador, El Salvador |
| Party | National Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Tula Mazzini |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Norberto Ramírez (grandfather) Carlos Meléndez (brother) Alfonso Quiñónez Molina (brother-in-law) |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
Jorge Meléndez Ramírez (15 April 1871 – 22 November 1953) was a Salvadoran politician and businessman who served as President of El Salvador from 1919 to 1923. The presidency was the only political office Meléndez ever held. He was the younger brother of President Carlos Meléndez.
Meléndez became the 1919 presidential candidate for the National Democratic Party (PND) after Carlos resigned as President and the election's frontrunners, Alfonso Quiñónez Molina and Tomás Palomo, dropped out. Meléndez won the election with almost 97 percent of the vote and assumed office on 1 March 1919. During his presidency, the PND centralized power and monopolized local patronage networks. Meléndez suppressed several coups against his rule. He was succeeded in 1923 by Quiñónez, who had served as his vice president. Meléndez's presidency was a part of the broader Meléndez–Quiñónez dynasty that ruled El Salvador from 1913 to 1927. Meléndez tried to overthrow President Pío Romero Bosque in 1927 as he attempted to curb the dynasty's influence, but the coup failed and Meléndez left El Salvador for exile in Costa Rica.