José “Mocho"Hernández: A man of rebellious expression and firm conviction (+seeding)

Published at: 25/08/2024 08:18 AM

The famous military and politician José Manuel Hernández died in New York on August 25, 1921. Known as “Mocho Hernández”, a nickname that he owes to his fight in the fight against Los Lirios, he dedicated himself to political life, which was his passion from a young age.

His first military experience came at the beginning of Septenio Guzmancista, between 1870 and 1877, in the Blue Forces of General Esteban Quintana who fought against the Government of President Antonio Guzmán Blanco.

Hernández was the son of a carpenter but was never interested in his father's profession, despite this, when his father died, he had to take charge of the workshop, which left someone else to dedicate himself fully to politics.

From his first years in politics, it is only known that he was imprisoned, due to his participation in several insurrections against the Guzmancist regime and was forced to flee. However, upon his return to the country, he was imprisoned again. In 1887, he led the movement against the arbitrary and greedy administration of Governor Pedro Vicente Mijares and in favor of the reintegration of the territory into the Bolivar state.

In 1890, Hernández was appointed inspector of public works for the Yuruary territory and later president of the Development Board that directed the works on the road to San Félix. In the same year, in the elections for the representation of the Yuruary territory in the National Congress, Hernández presented his candidacy, but President Raimundo Andueza Palacio imposed the election of José Martínez Mayz.

Hernández managed to have it annulled in January of the following year, due to the protest he led in Caracas. Because of this, he was considered an opponent of the Andueza Palacio regime and was imprisoned in Ciudad Bolívar from 1891 to 1892.

He participated in the Legalist Revolution in Guiana led by Joaquín Crespo. He took Ciudad Bolivar and was appointed civil and military leader of the Guiana section. In 1897, he ran for the Presidency of the Republic, but failed to win due to fraud organized by Crespo. After a year and a half in prison in La Rotunda, he came out after the triumph of Cipriano Castro, who appointed him Minister of Public Works. But it rises to 4 days, considering that the cabinet constituted by Castro did not respond to the real needs of the country. Captured in 1900, he was sent to the castle of San Carlos.

In 1902 when he was released by the amnesty decreed on the occasion of the blockade of the Venezuelan coast by foreign powers. Under these circumstances, Hernández decides to support Castro.

After this patriotic support, he returned to Castro's cabinet, however, he continued with the insurrections and uprisings he led.

El Mocho Hernández ended up in exile in Puerto Rico, Cuba and finally in the United States where he died.