Manuel Amador Guerrero (30 June, 1833 - 2 May, 1909), was the first president of Panama from 20 February 1904 to 1 October 1908. He was a member of the Conservative Party.

Very little is known about his childhood and teenage years. He was born on Turbaco, Colombia, when Panama was part of that country. He came to Panama in 1855 and started working on the Panama Railroad as a doctor. He worked also more than twenty years on the Santo Tomás Hospital. His most important work was as chief doctor of the Panama Railroad. This job was crucial in the role he played on the Panamanian independence from Colombia. He was an important player on the independence movement of 1903.

After his presidency

He retired from public life and died soon after in his house on San Felipe. His last coherent words were to express his wish that the National Anthem was played as his body was lowered to his gravesite, a wish that was realized.

Trivia

• Plaza Amador, a soccer team in Panama's highest league, ANAPROF, was named in his honor. The clubs colors' are also red, white and blue as they were the colors adopted by his patriotic movement for independence.

• The Orden de Manuel Amador Guerrero, the highest honor of Panama, was named in his honor.

References

• "55 mandatarios", an album of the Panamanian newspaper La Prensa containing the life of all the Presidents of Panama.

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