José Balta
José Balta | |
|---|---|
José Balta, c. 1871 | |
| 19th President of Peru | |
| In office 2 August 1868 – 22 July 1872 | |
| Prime Minister | José Allende |
| Vice President | Mariano Herencia Zevallos Francisco Diez Canseco |
| Preceded by | Pedro Diez Canseco |
| Succeeded by | Tomás Gutiérrez |
| Prime Minister of Peru | |
| In office 2 August 1868 – 2 August 1871 | |
| Preceded by | Antonio Arenas |
| Succeeded by | José Allende |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 April 1814 Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru, Spanish Empire |
| Died | 26 July 1872 (aged 58) San Francisco de Asís barracks, Lima, Peru |
José Balta y Montero (25 April 1814 – 26 July 1872) was a Peruvian soldier and politician who served as the 19th President of Peru from 1868 to 1872. He was the son of John Balta Bru and Agustina Montero Casafranca.
In 1865, he aided Mariano Ignacio Prado in the seizure of the presidency and served in his administration. In 1867, he in turn overthrew Prado. As president, he re-established constitutional rule and undertook vast projects for national improvement. He granted a monopoly of guano export to a French company and obtained large loans in Europe, yet the lavish expenditures of his administration plunged Peru deep in debt. Balta was deposed and shot by a disgruntled member of his own cabinet, Defense Minister Tomás Gutiérrez during his subsequent coup d'état attempt.