Benjamín Zeledón

Benjamín Francisco Zeledón Rodríguez (October 4, 1879 – October 4, 1912) was a Nicaraguan lawyer, politician and soldier known under the posthumous title of "National Hero of Nicaragua".

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Zeledón and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Benjamín Francisco Alexander
Born	(1879-10-04)October 4, 1879 La Concordia, Jinotega, Nicaragua
Died	October 4, 1912(1912-10-04) (aged 33) Catarina, Masaya, Nicaragua
Occupation	Lawyer
Military career
Allegiance	Nicaragua
Years of service	1907 – 1912
Rank	General
Battles / wars	Battle of Namasigüe, Battle of Masaya
Awards	National Hero of Nicaragua

General Benjamin Zeledon image in the Coyotepe Fortress historical marker

He was born on 4 October 1879 in Jinotega Department to Don Marcelino Zeledón Ugarte and Doña Maria Salomé Rodriguez. After receiving a bachelor's degree in Tegucigalpa, he returned to Nicaragua in 1900 and received a law degree in 1903. In 1905 he married Esther Ramírez Jerez. He was promoted to colonel on 9 Aug. 1907 after the Battle of Namasigüe.^[1]

Liberal-Conservative Revolution 1912

He was one of the leaders of an uprising against President Adolfo Díaz. His rebel forces opened fire on American Marines and sailors at Masaya on September 19, 1912. After the surrender of General Luis Mena on September 23, Zeledón assumed the supreme command of the Revolution thus became Supreme Leader of the Government in rebellion. He was killed during the Battle of Coyotepe Hill, when United States Marines recaptured Fort Coyotepe and the city of Masaya from rebels. His body was carried on an oxcart by the Marines to be buried in Catarina. This image greatly impacted future Nicaraguan revolutionary Augusto César Sandino.

External links

• The letters of Benjamín Zeledón, written before his death in combat (Spanish)
• La saga heroica de Benjamín Zeledón, by José Aníbal Gallegos (La Prensa article, October 4, 2002) (Spanish)]
• El general Benjamín Zeledón, by Augusto César Sandino (Spanish)