María Michelsen Lombana

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María Michelsen Lombana
First Lady of Colombia
In role
7 August 1942 (1942-08-07) – 7 August 1945 (1945-08-07)
PresidentAlfonso López Pumarejo
Preceded byMaria Teresa Londoño
Succeeded byLorenza Villegas Restrepo
In role
7 August 1934 (1934-08-07) – 7 August 1938 (1938-08-07)
PresidentAlfonso López Pumarejo
Preceded byLorenza Villegas Restrepo
Succeeded byBertha Hernández Fernández
Personal details
Born
María Michelsen Lombana

(1890-02-17)17 February 1890
Bogota, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Died22 January 1949(1949-01-22) (aged 58)
Bogota, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Political partyLiberal
SpouseAlfonso López Pumarejo (1911–1949)
Children
  • María López Michelsen
  • María Mercedes López Michelsen
  • Alfonso López Michelsen
  • Pedro López Michelsen
  • Fernando López Michelsen

María Michelsen Lombana (17 February 1890 – 22 January 1949) was the First Lady of Colombia for two periods, the first time, from 1934 to 1938, and the second time from 1942 to 1945, when her husband Alfonso López Pumarejo was president of the Republic of Colombia.

Early life

María was born in Bogotá, on 17 February 1890, daughter of the scientist Carlos Michelsen Uribe and Antonia Lombana Barreneche.

She married Alfonso López Pumarejo on 19 August 1911. From the López Michelsen marriage come five children: María, Alfonso López Michelsen, Pedro, María Mercedes and Femando.

First Lady of Colombia

With the government of López Pumarejo and with the help of his wife María Michelsen Lombana, a new era was inaugurated in the Nariño Palace, as the name of First Lady of Colombia to refer to the president's wife who was going to be there at a certain time ruling Colombia. To María Michelsen they owe, among other things: The Amparo for Abandoned Children, inaugurated on 22 November 1934, the School of the Daughters of María de las Esclavas. He collaborated with the San Antonio Asylum and with the San Rafael Clinic. Also, she was the promoter of social work in Colombia, for all the work she did in the country she was decorated with the Cross of Boyacá in 1948.

Last years and death

After her husband Alfonso López Pumarejo stopped ruling the country in 1945, María Michelsen continued promoting and working with the social work that she had been doing for several years. He died in Bogotá on 22 January 1949.

References