Hipólito Unanue

Life & Legacy

José Hipólito Unanue y Pavón (August 13, 1755–July 15, 1833) was a Peruvian medical doctor, naturalist, meteorologist, cosmographer, the first Minister of Finance of Peru, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Protomédico (equivalent to Minister of health combining with head of "Escuela de Medicina del Peru"), university professor, founder of the San Fernando Medical School (now the Medicine faculty of San Marcos University), representative of Arequipa in the Cortes of Cádiz, President of the Junta de Gobierno (highest executive power in the Peruvian government at that time), Protector of the province of Arequipa (during the Spanish Empire), independence precursor and a Peruvian politician, active in politics in the early years after independence. He served as the President of the Congress from 1822 to 1823.