José Acevedo y Gómez

José Acevedo y Gómez (1773 in Charalá, Santander – May 1817, in Caquetá) was an independence hero of Colombia. With an educational background of grammar and philosophy, he became a highly skillful orator and political figure, attaining the position of the Attorney General. He generated a vast wealth through his trading activities. He was honored with a bust in the patio of the Palacio Liévano.

Early life Born in 1773 in Charalá, he was baptized in the Monguí parish. He was descended from noble Spanish families on both sides. He studied at the Our Lady of the Rosary University. While he read the classics and liberal philosophers of the eighteenth century, he did not pursue a degree. Instead, he developed skills in trade. He evolved as a very good orator, and with this skill he could promote freedom movements of the country.

Career He moved to San Gil where he held various public offices. In Bogotá, he delivered his oratory, "The Tribune of Pueblo". Here, he prospered as a trader, while training in law and philosophy. They had gathered in the main plaza of the country's capital city, Bogotá, in an open-air meeting. The seven patriots of the group were known as the "Colombian Founding Fathers".

During the period known as "Patria Boba", Acevedo participated in the independence rebellions of Cundinamarca and Tunja. He held positions in government during the Patria Boba. But when the forces of General Pablo Morillo regained much of United Provinces of New Granada, Acevedo took refuge in the jungles of Caquetá. While there, he fell ill and died in May 1817.