Clemencia Holguín de Urdaneta
| Clemencia Holguín de Urdaneta | |
|---|---|
| Holguín de Urdaneta c. 1930
Holguín de Urdaneta c. 1930
| |
| First Lady of Colombia | |
| In role November 5, 1951 – June 13, 1953 | |
| President | Roberto Urdaneta |
| Preceded by | María Hurtado de Gómez |
| Succeeded by | Carola Correa de Rojas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clemencia Holguín Caro June 5, 1894 Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
| Died | May 10, 1990 (aged 95) Bogotá, D.C., Colombia |
| Resting place | Central Cemetery of Bogotá |
| Party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Roberto Urdaneta (m. 1917; died 1972) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Carlos Holguín Mallarino (father) Margarita Caro de Holguín (mother) |
| Relatives | Holguín family |
Clemencia Holguín de Urdaneta (née Holguín Caro; June 5, 1894 – May 10, 1990) was the first lady of Colombia from 1951 to 1953, as the wife of Roberto Urdaneta, the 25th president of Colombia. Her father was Carlos Holguín Mallarino, the 3rd president of Colombia. She married Urdaneta, then a lawyer with a prominent career in Bogotá circles.
As First Lady, she dedicated herself to supporting Urdaneta's administration as hostess at the Casa de Nariño. She showed little interest in politics and rarely participated in political debates, although she did support the welfare of soldiers, who played an important role in her husband's administration.
Early life, marriage and family
Clemencia Holguín Caro a was born in Bogotá, Cundinamarca, on June 5, 1894, to President Carlos Holguín Mallarino, who, like her future husband, would become president as a presidential designated.[1] Her mother, Margarita Caro de Holguín (née Caro Tovar), was the sister of the fifth president, Miguel Antonio Caro.[2] Clemencia grew up in the Chicó neighborhood of Bogotá, at the time one of the wealthiest areas of the city. Clemencia had three siblings: Margarita (1875–1959), Hernando (1871–1921), and Álvaro (1889–1973).[3][4] Her family was constantly under public scrutiny, which later influenced Clemencia's approach to life.[5]
Clemencia was a highly sought-after woman in her time, especially in Bogotá's high society. As the eldest daughter, she was closely watched by her two older brothers. Clemencia was courted by Roberto Urdaneta, at the time a lawyer whose career was just beginning.[6] The courtship lasted a full year, with the strict permission of Clemencia's father, President Carlos. Clemencia and Roberto married on June 3, 1917, in a ceremony held at the Jockey Club of Bogotá. After their marriage, Clemencia lived in Lima, The Hague, and Chía, Cundinamarca, due to Roberto's work.
In July 1951, Roberto was appointed Minister of Government by President Laureano Gómez. He later held the position concurrently with that of presidential designate until November of that year. Following President Gómez's declining health, Roberto led the government ex officio until November of that year, when he finally ascended to the presidency. After Roberto's rise to the presidency, Clemencia became the First Lady of Colombia, serving discreetly and avoiding unnecessary public appearances. Promoting a rather conservative view of the role of a politician's wife, she discreetly advocated for basic sanitation for military personnel.[7]
Following the soft coup of 1953, Urdaneta left his post. With Rojas Pinilla's rise to the presidency, the Urdaneta family settled in Geneva, Switzerland until his fall in 1957.
References
- Back to citation Gobernantes Colombianos, Ignacio Arismendi Posada, Interprint Editors Ltd., Italgraf, Segunda Edición, p. 220, Bogotá, Colombia, 1983
- Back to citation "Clemencia Holguín de Urdaneta". Reseña Histórica. October 20, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
- Back to citation ""La Prensa"". news.google.com. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- Back to citation Holguín y Caro, Alvaro (1981). Al servicio de la República: vida de Carlos Holguín presidente de Colombia. Desarrollo. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
- Back to citation Holguín Holguín, Carlos; Tomás Holguín Mora; Paula Torres Holguín (2005). "Camargo como Presidente de la República". Escritos, 1912-1998 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Bogotá: Centro Editorial Universidad del Rosario. pp. 292–293. ISBN 958-8225-48-5. OCLC 68811847. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
- Back to citation "Reseña Historica". colclemenciaholguindeurdaneta.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- Back to citation "LAS DIEZ HORAS AGITADAS DE UN SÁBADO TRANQUILO". Revista Credencial (in Spanish). September 29, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2020.