The General José Antonio Páez in New York 1847-1873

The general Páez (1790-1873)* was the first president of the Republic of Venezuela, on two occasions (1831-34 and 1839-43-), after being one of the most significant and victorious fighters of the Venezuelan independence. He was president twice and after being exiled by his opponents he withdrew voluntarily to the United States, arriving from Saint Thomas to Candem, State Island, Philadelphia and Baltimore, before arriving to New York where he was received with the highest honors of his hierarchy and recognition of his fights and position.

At the time Millard Filmore (1800-1874) was the President of the United States and gave a reception of welcome to General Páez which was published by the New York Times.

His biographer and friend from the same region C. Grahame, quoted in reference to these homages: "After all he was not more than a simple leader defeated by its own party… the thought that any former president of some South American republic, whose star had been eclipsed, with all its personal prestige, were received nowadays with public honors in New York, surpasses the imagination of the common man, regardless of its strength".

Besides having been received, praised and protected by the maximum authorities of the city, he lived for there for 16 years, with intervals of trips through some South American countries, he made the decision to reside permanently in New York until his death at the age of 84 in 1873. The press cited "when he withdrew to his private life, he made of this country his home. The general Páez was a man of enviable character and of extreme talent…"

In 1858, during the Federal War he returned to his mother land, requested as the Leader of the armies to calm the disturbances that governed the country, that unfortunately he could not dominate, and from which came his fame of the dictator he never came to be; in spite of having the full support of the government. After one year he returned to the United States and in 1861 will go back to Venezuela only to come back to New York in 1865.

His funeral was celebrated in the Roman Catholic church of Saint Stephen, at 28th street and Third Avenue, it was attended by a series of personalities from both countries. In the ceremony Chopin’s “Funeral March” and Mozart’s “Requiem” were performed. His body rested at the Marble cemetery until it made its way to Venezuela in 1888.

The occasion of his return was a public event widely registered by the New York press. Major Grant of the City Hall and president Cleveland himself gave the order to have two American warships accompany the “Pensacola” which contained Páez body to the American marine border.

Páez as was registered by the local press, was honored by the city Hall of new York and in life came be a Minister Plenipoteciario of Venezuela before the United States, to negotiate graze him between the American government and the dispute by the limits required by the English crown.

In life he was photographed by recognized authors as the same one Mathew Brady, who he went who he brought to light the image of the candidate Abraham Lincoln, to achieve the presidency of his country, al to be the first candidate presidential acquaintance through the photography. Also he was portrayed by the acquaintance photographer Chat D. Fredericks toward 1863-65., the press cited that "did not exist another so popular gallery in New York as that of Fredricks called The Temper of the Arts located in the number 587 of the street Broadway.

The coffin of the general Páez said good-bye with the but high honors of their hierarchy in the Cathedral of San Patrick since where was carried, in a notable parade by the Fifth Avenue to the port of NEW Cork nowadays this buried in the National Pantheon of Caracas, place where they lie down the but preclaros heroes of the Venezuelan independence. (*) One of the most notorious biographies of the general Páez was it written by the American R.B. Cunningham Grahame, who had known to Páez in 1830 and he resided long years in Venezuela.

Antonio Padrón Toro