Williman, Claudio (1863–1934)

Claudio Williman (b. 2 September 1863; d. 9 February 1934), president of Uruguay (1907–1911). After graduating with a degree in law in 1888, Williman taught courses in mathematics and physics at the University of the Republic. From 1902 to 1924 he served as rector of the university. He was one of the founders of the College of Mathematics and the School of Commerce, today called the College of Economic Sciences. Between 1904 and 1907, he served as minister of government in the administration of President José Batlle y Ordóñez. After this term, Williman was nominated as a candidate for the presidency by the Colorado Party. He won the election and served from 1907 to 1911.

Williman's administration was characterized by meticulousness and strict control over public spending, and is often considered conservative when compared to that of Batlle y Ordóñez. Throughout the Williman administration, Batlle stayed in Europe with his family, but in 1910 he returned to Uruguay to take up the role of chief of the Colorado Party, and in 1911 he succeeded Williman as president.

See alsoBatlle y Ordóñez, José; Uruguay, Political Parties: Colorado Party.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Benjamin Nahum, La época batllista (1984).

Washington Reyes Abadie and Andrés Vázquez Romero, Crónica general del Uruguay, vol. 4 (1984).

Additional Bibliography

Giménez Rodríguez, Alejandro. El libro de los presidentes uruguayos: de Fructuoso Rivera a Jorge Batlle (1830–2004). Montevideo, Uruguay: Linardi y Risso, 2004.

Nahum, Benjamín. El Uruguay del siglo XX. Montevideo, Uruguay: Ediciones de la Banda Oriental: Instituto de Economía: Instituto de Cienca Política, 2001.

                                 JosÉ de Torres Wilson