José Figueres Ferrer

**José María Hipólito Figueres Ferrer** (25 September 1906 – 8 June 1990) was president of Costa Rica three times. He was also the rebel leader during the Costa Rican civil war.

## Early years

Also known as **Don Pepe**, José Figueres Ferrer was born in San Ramón, Alajuela, Costa Rica. His parents were from Cataluña, Spain: Mariano Rodríguez Borges and Francisca Ferrer Mendiola. Figueres entered the Primary Boys School in San Ramón of Alajuela in 1913. He got in Costa Rica’s Lyceum finishing his Secondary studies in 1920. He went to Boston, United States to travel and study. He returned to Costa Rica in 1928 and bought a coffee farm.

## Civil war

In 1942, Figueres made a speech on Latin America Radio. In this speech, he objected to the situation in Costa Rica under president Rafael Ángel Calderón. Because of this speech, he was arrested and forced to leave the country. Figueres return to Costa Rica in 1944. He started a political party, the Democratic Party. A main goal of the party was to go against Calderon's party, the National Republican Party. In 1948, supporters of Calderón caused problems with an election for president in which Calderón lost to Otilio Ulate. Because of this, the results of the election were not used. This led to the start of the civil war in 1948. In March 11, 1948, Don Pepe began a war to support the peoples decision at the previous election. Figueres and his troops won.

## President of Costa Rica

In the same year, José Figueres Ferrer became president of the Second Republic Founder Assembly. He became president of Costa Rica for the first time and eliminated the Costa Rica army. He became President of Costa Rica for the second time in 1953 winning the election with 65% of the votes. In 1970, he became Costa Rica’s President for the third time. Figueres died June 8, 1990. Five months later he was declared Benemérito de la Patria.

## Achievements

In the 1953-1958 administration, very important institutions are created. These included:
- Living and Urbanism National Institute (INVU).
- Costarrican Turism Institute (ICT).
- He promulgated the Production National Council Organism Law (CNP).

During his last administration (1970-1974) a lot of institutes were created such as:
- Municipal Foment and Consultancy Institute (IFAM).
- Costa Rica’s Technological Institute (ITCR).
- Costa Rica’s National College.
- Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: José María Hipólito Figueres Ferrer
- **image**: José Figueres Ferrer 1.png
- **imagesize**: 200px
- **order**: 38th List of Presidents of Costa Rica, President of Costa Rica
- **term start**: 8 May 1970
- **term end**: 8 May 1974
- **predecessor**: José Joaquín Trejos Fernández
- **successor**: Daniel Oduber Quirós, Daniel Oduber
- **order2**: 34th List of Presidents of Costa Rica, President of Costa Rica
- **term start2**: 8 November 1953
- **term end2**: 8 May 1958
- **predecessor2**: Otilio Ulate Blanco
- **successor2**: Mario Echandi Jiménez, Mario Echandi
- **order3**: 32nd List of Presidents of Costa Rica, President of Costa Rica
- **term start3**: 8 May 1948
- **term end3**: 8 November 1949
- **predecessor3**: Teodoro Picado Michalski, Teodoro Picado
- **successor3**: Otilio Ulate Blanco
- **birth date**: 25 September 1906
- **birth place**: San Ramón, Costa Rica, San Ramón, Alajuela
- **death date**: 8 June 1990 (aged 83)
- **death place**: San José, Costa Rica, San José
- **party**: National Liberation Party (Costa Rica), PLN
- **spouse**: Henrietta Boggs, Henrietta Boggs Long
Karen Olsen Beck
- **profession**: landowner, politician