Policarpo Bonilla

José Policarpo Bonilla Vasquez (17 March 1858 – 11 September 1926) was Dictator of Honduras between 22 February 1894 and 1 February 1895. He was then elected as President for the period between 1 February 1895 and 1 February 1899.

Biography

He was born on 17 March 1858 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras; his parents were Inocencio Bonilla and Juana Vasquez. He became a lawyer on 17 March 1878, and held posts in the government of Marco Aurelio Soto. On 31 October 1890 he created a newspaper "El Bien Público".

In February 1891 he founded the Liberal Party of Honduras. In November 1891 Bonilla contested the presidential elections, but lost to Ponciano Leiva. In December 1893 he led armed forces that invaded from Nicaragua with support from Nicaraguan president José Santos Zelaya. died in 1926. Following his death, the Liberal Party was reunited and nominated Vicente Mejía Colindres. Conlindres won the 1928 elections.