Jorge Basadre Grohmann Peruvian historian Date of Birth: 12.02.1903 Country: Peru

1. Early Life and Education
2. Public Service
3. Historical Works
4. Legacy

Early Life and Education

Jorge Basadre Grohmann was born in Tacna, Peru, in 1903, during the Chilean occupation of the region. He received his primary education at the Colegio de Santa Rosa in Tacna before moving to Lima with his family in 1912. Basadre completed his secondary education at the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in 1918.

In 1919, Basadre enrolled at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, where he earned a Doctor of Humanities in 1928 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1935. He worked at the National Library of Peru from 1919 to 1930 while completing his studies.

Public Service

After returning to Peru, Basadre became the Director of the Central Library at San Marcos University. Following a fire at the National Library of Peru in 1943, Basadre was appointed its Director and tasked with rebuilding the library. He also oversaw the publication of the library's journal, "Fenix."

In 1945, Basadre briefly served as Minister of Education under the government of José Bustamante y Rivero. From 1956 to 1962, he headed the Historical Institute of Peru. In 1956, President Manuel Prado y Ugarteche reappointed Basadre as Minister of Education, a position he held until 1958.

Historical Works

Basadre wrote extensively on Peruvian history, with a focus on the 19th and early 20th centuries. His works remain authoritative sources on this period. His most significant work is "Historia de la República," first published in a single volume in 1935. Basadre continued to expand the work, and by the 6th edition in 1968, it had grown to 16 volumes. At that time, it covered the period from Peru's independence in 1821 to the death of President Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro.

Legacy

Jorge Basadre died in Lima on June 29, 1980, at the age of 77. Numerous educational institutions in Peru are named after him, including the Jorge Basadre Peruvian University in Tacna. Basadre's portrait is featured on the modern 100 Peruvian nuevos soles banknote.