Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno

Romualdo Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno (February 6, 1859 – January 4, 1945) served as president of Costa Rica on three occasions: 1910 to 1914, 1924 to 1928, and 1932 to 1936.[1]

Ricardo Jiménez
19th, 25th, 27th, President of Costa Rica
In office 8 May 1910 – 8 May 1914
Preceded by	Cleto González (first term)
Succeeded by	Alfredo González Flores
In office 8 May 1924 – 8 May 1928
Preceded by	Julio Acosta García
Succeeded by	Cleto González Víquez (second term)
In office 8 May 1932 – 8 May 1936
Preceded by	Cleto González Víquez (second term)
Succeeded by	León Cortés Castro
Personal details
Born	February 6, 1859 Cartago, Costa Rica
Died	January 4, 1945 (aged 85) San José, Costa Rica
Political party	PRN
Spouse(s)	Beatriz Zamora López ​ ​ (m. 1932; died 1933)​ María Eugenia Calvo Badia ​ ​ (m. 1936)​
Nickname(s)	Don Ricardo

He was one of the best known lawyers in Costa Rican history and a University of Santo Tomás graduate. Shortly before assuming power in 1910, the province of Cartago was hit by a powerful earthquake which destroyed most of the city and killed hundreds. One of his main struggles was the rebuilding of the biggest city in the country at the time. After the earthquake, Jiménez outlawed construction with adobe.[2] Another notable aspect of his first term was the consolidation of the country's external debt with a great part of the debt owed to France being repaid.

During his second term in office, he created the National Insurance Bank, The Bank of Mortgage Credit, the School of Agriculture and founded the Ministry of Health. He also began the electrification of the Pacific railway system and the creation of the Pacific port of Puntarenas. After his second term he stepped away from the political scene for four years.

He again was elected President in 1932. During his last term in office he concentrated on the country's infrastructure and educational system. He built several large buildings for school housing, improved and built new roads throughout the country and constructed an aqueduct system that started in the central valley at Ojo de Agua and flowed into the Pacific Ocean at Puntarenas.[2] During his administration, the bridge from Filadelfia and Liberia was constructed, as was the Old National Theater.

He died in San José on 4 January 1945.[2]

His father was two-time president Jesús Jiménez.

References

1. El Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones: Presidentes de la República de Costa Rica
2. "Fasciculo 3 Mandatarios de Costa Rica". La Nacion. 5 June 2013.