Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire (1884-1969) was born and died in Caracas, Venezuela. Though he did not complete university studies, he built a career in education and became a renowned writer, eventually serving as President of Venezuela.
Teaching trajectory
Gallegos did not complete university studies in law and agriculture but entered the education system. In 1912, he became director of the Colegio Federal Varones in Cumaná. In 1918, he was subdirector of the Escuela Normal de Varones in Caracas, teaching mathematics. From 1922 to 1928, he was director of the Liceo Caracas (now Liceo Andrés Bello), where he was known as “el chivo” and taught a generation of future Venezuelan leaders.
Political trajectory
In 1931, appointed senator by dictator Juan Vicente Gómez, he chose exile until Gómez's death in 1935. After returning to Venezuela in 1936, he was named Minister of Public Instruction by President Eleazar López Contreras but resigned. He co-founded the Partido Acción Democrática in 1941. He played a role in the 1945 coup that brought Rómulo Betancourt to power. Gallegos was elected president in 1947 in Venezuela’s first free and secret universal election, serving for nine months before being overthrown by a military coup in 1948. He went into exile again, returning in 1958, and did not re-enter active politics. From 1960, he served as president of the Inter-American Commission on Human rights.
Connections between both careers
While teaching at Liceo Caracas, Gallegos taught a generation of young Venezuelans who would later define the country’s intellectual and political landscape, including future presidents and political figures. His own account stressed the importance of education to his vision of culture, stating that the path he chose for his life was teaching, which was consistent with his ideas.
Contradictions
Gallegos accepted a senatorial appointment from dictator Juan Vicente Gómez in 1931, which went against his democratic values, leading him to choose exile instead. He also resigned as Minister of Public Instruction in 1936 due to a clash of principles.
Sources
Lieuwen, Edwin. n.d. “Romulo Gallegos | Biography, Books, & Facts.” Britannica. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Romulo-Gallegos.
Arias, Antonio. 1984. “Rómulo Gallegos: en el centenario de su nacimiento.” M.a de las Nieves Pinillos (Madrid), 1984. https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/research/romulo-gallegos-en-el-centenario-de-su-nacimiento/9ecff26f-3055-4299-a932-a8c611cda974.pdf. quote on page three