José Rafael Carrera Turcios (24 October 1814 – 14 April 1865) was the ruler of Guatemala from about 1839 until his death. He was the President of Guatemala, representing the Conservatives, on two occasions:

• 4 December 1844 to 16 August 1848
• 6 November 1851 - 14 April 1865 (from the adoption of the 1851 constitution until his death)

In the 1830s Rafael Carrera was an illiterate but shrewd and charismatic swineherd turned highwayman, pledged a vendetta against Central American president Francisco Morazán and the Federal government after undisciplined Federal soldiers killed some of his relatives. Local conservative factions at first tried to use Carrera for their own ends, but by 1838 Carrera became de facto ruler of much of Guatemala. Morazán repeatedly chased Carrera's forces out of cities and towns, but Carrera's followers would retake places as soon as Morazán's army left.

The Carrera revolt inspired other Conservatives to revolt, and soon Central America was at civil war. Carrera was instrumental in leading the revolt against the Federal government and breaking apart the Central American Union. Carrera dominated Guatemala through 1865, backed by conservatives, large land owners, and the church.

On 21 October 1854 he adopted the style "President for Life".

(from 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica, article "Guatemala") The Central American provinces revolted in 1821, were annexed to the Mexican empire of Agustín de Iturbide from 1822 to 1823, and united to form a federal republic from 1823 to 1839. In. Guatemala the Clerical, Conservative or antiFederal party was supreme; after a protracted struggle it overthrew the Liberals or Federalists, and declared the country an independent republic, with Rafael Carrera (1814-1865) as president. In. 1845 an attempt to restore the federal union failed; in 1851 Carrera defeated the Federalist forces of Honduras and Salvador at La Arada near Chiquimula, and was recognized as the pacificator of the republic. In 1851 a new constitution was promulgated, and Carrera was appointed president till 1856, a dignity which was in 1854 bestowed upon him for life. His rivalry with Gerardo Barrios (d. 1865), president of Salvador, resulted in open war in 1863. At Coatepeque the Guatemalans suffered a severe defeat, which was followed by a truce. Honduras now joined with Salvador, and Nicaragua and Costa Rica with Guatemala. The contest was finally settled in favor of Carrera, who besieged and occupied San Salvador and made himself dominant also in Honduras and Nicaragua. During the rest of his rule, which lasted till his death in April 1865, he continued to act in concert with the Clerical party, and endeavoured to maintain friendly relations with the European governments. Carreras successor was General Cerna, who had been recommended by him for election.

See also

• History of Guatemala
• History of Central America

External links

• Biography on Catholic Encyclopedia
• Biography in Spanish