Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán y Ureta (August 22, 1821 - December 31, 1886), Peruvian historian and geographer, was born in

Arequipa Arequipa (; Aymara and qu, Ariqipa) is a city and capital of province and the eponymous department of Peru. It is the seat of the Constitutional Court of Peru and often dubbed the "legal capital of Peru". It is the second most populated cit ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. He was Minister of Justice and Instruction and

Minister of Foreign Relations Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

Education and early career

Paz Soldán was the son of Manuel Paz Soldán and Gregoria de Ureta Araníbar and was educated at Seminary of San Jerónimo and University of San Agustín, where he obtained a degree in Law. He had three brothers Mateo, José Gregorio and Pedro. He studied law and, after holding some minor judicial offices, was minister to New Granada in 1853. After his return, he occupied himself with plans for the establishment of a model penitentiary at

Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of t ...

, which he was enabled to accomplish through the support of General Ramon Castilla. In 1860, Castilla made him director of public works, in which capacity he superintended the erection of the Lima statue of

Simón Bolívar Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and ...

. He was also concerned in the reform of the currency by the withdrawal of the debased Bolivian coins.

Atlas, History, and Geographical Dictionary

Great atlas

In 1861, he published his great atlas of the republic of Peru, and, in 1868, the first volume of his history of Peru after the acquisition of her independence. A second volume followed, and a third, bringing the history down to 1839, was published after his death by his son.

Geographical Dictionary of Peru

In 1870, he was minister of justice and worship under President

José Balta José Balta y Montero (25 April 1814 – 26 July 1872) was a Peruvian soldier and politician who served as the 19th President of Peru from 1868 to 1872. He was the son of John Balta Bru and Agustina Montero Casafranca. In 1865, he aided M ...

, but shortly afterwards retired from public life. He edited his brother Mateo's great geographical dictionary of Peru, which was published in 1877. During the disastrous war with Chile, he sought refuge in

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the Capital city, capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata ...

where he was made professor in the

Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires (''National School of Buenos Aires'') is a public high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, affiliated to the University of Buenos Aires. In the tradition of the European ''gymnasium'' it provides a free education ...

and where he wrote and published a history of the war (1884). He died on December 31, 1886.

Publications

* ''Índice alfabético del Código Civil y de Enjuiciamientos y de Reglamento de Tribunales'' (1853) * ''Geografía del Perú'' (1860) * ''Atlas Geográfico del Perú'' (1865) * ''Diccionario geográfico del Perú'' (1877) * ''Historia del Perú independiente 1819-1827'' (1868) * ''Biblioteca Peruana'' (1879) * ''Narración histórica de la guerra de Chile contra Perú y Bolivia'' (1883)

Notes

References

* * Maps, Drawings and photos of M. Paz Soldá
David Rumpsey Map Collection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paz Soldan, Mariano Felipe 1821 births 1886 deaths People from Arequipa 19th-century Peruvian historians Peruvian male writers Historians of Peru 19th-century male writers