Fulgencio Yegros

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Fulgencio Yegros y Franco de Torres (1780–1821) was a Paraguayan soldier, landowner, and the first head of state after Paraguay won independence. He was born in Quyquyhó into a family with a long military tradition and studied in Asunción before joining the Spanish colonial army. He saw action in 1802 against the Portuguese and in 1807 helped defend Buenos Aires during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata. He became a captain in 1810 and governed Misiones. In early 1811 he took part in Paraguay’s campaign to defend the country from Belgrano's invasion. Yegros and Pedro Juan Caballero were the main military leaders of the Revolution of May 1811, which led to Paraguay's independence. From June 19, 1811 to October 12, 1813 he was president of a five-man ruling Junta Superior Gubernativa; in 1813 the Junta was replaced by a two-man consulate. Congress chose Yegros and Francia as Consuls of the Republic, following models from the French Revolution. During this period he founded Paraguay's first military academy. He was more a military man than a politician, and Francia marginalized him. His consul term lasted from February 12 to June 12, 1814. After that, Francia became dictator and Yegros retired to his estate. In 1820 he joined a failed plot to oust Francia, was imprisoned, and was executed on July 17, 1821. The town of Yegros is named in his honor. He was married to Facunda Speratti.