Chaves, Francisco C. (1875–1961)

Francisco C. Chaves (b. 7 June 1875; d. 1961), Paraguayan educator and statesman. Chaves was born in the city of Asunción in the period in which Paraguay was recovering from the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance. His well-connected family was involved in the country's reconstruction at many levels and contributed several sons and grandsons to serve in high office. Chaves was educated at the Colegio Nacional, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1895, and at the National University, from which he received a doctorate in law in 1901. He spent the rest of his career teaching law to young students.

After receiving his doctorate, the government named him a justice of the Superior Court and a professor of civil law at the university. Over the next ten years, he held numerous offices, including minister of justice, national deputy, minister to Brazil, and rector of the university.

Chaves taught a generation of lawyers in Paraguay and added a great deal to the professionalization of that field within the country. In later life, he became special envoy to a dozen international conferences while simultaneously serving as a national senator and president of the central bank. He capped his legal career by being named president of the Supreme Court.

See alsoParaguay: The Twentieth Century .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

William Belmont Parker, Paraguayans of To-Day (1921), pp. 189-190.

Charles J. Kolinski, Historical Dictionary of Paraguay (1975), p. 54.

                                 Thomas L. Whigham