Escuela de la Concordia


The Escuela de la Concordia, also known as the Patriotic Society of the Friends of the Country of Quito was an influential society in Spanish South America during the 1790s. It was centered in Quito, the capital of the Royal Audience of Quito, but also had members in Bogotá, Guayaquil, Riobamba, and Ibarra. It promoted Enlightenment thought and nationalism in the discussion of regional affairs and is seen as a precursor to Quitonian independence as the Republic of Ecuador.

History

The society was inspired by the "Discourse to the Illustrious and Loyal City of Quito" published by the Quitonian native Dr.Eugenio de Santa Cruz y Espejo during his visit to the viceregal capital Bogotá in 1789.
The society was founded two years later as the "Patriotic Society of the Friends of the Country" by 23 creoles and mestizos who met at the University of St Gregory the Great on 30 November 1791. They pledged to meet once a week to address issues concerning education, science, agriculture, commerce, politics, and the arts. The Patriotic Society soon became better known by Espejo's earlier name, the Escuela de la Concordia. Under his editorship, it published the audience's first newspaper Primicias de la Cultura de Quito in 1792.
The group had expected royal approval but this was rejected via official decree on 11 November 1793. The group ceased official activity shortly thereafter, with Espejo's death ending the last of its operations by 1796.

Members

NameOccupationLocationNotes
Miguel de Jijón and León1st Count of Casa JijónQuito1st president
Juan José Guerrero and Matheu5th Count of Selva FloridaQuito1st director
Eugenio de Santa Cruz y EspejolawyerQuito1st secretary
Francisco Javier SalazarlawyerQuitofounding member
Francisco de la GrañaclergymanQuitofounding member
Sancho de EscobarwriterQuitofounding member
Ramón YépezwriterQuitofounding member
Juan José BonichewriterQuitofounding member
Juan LarreawriterQuitofounding member
José de Cuero y CaicedobishopQuito
José Antonio Pérez CalamabishopQuito
Juan Pío Montúfar2nd Marquis of Selva AlegreQuito
Jacinto Sánchez de Orellana2nd Marquis of Villa de OrellanaQuito
Manuel de Larrea y Jijón1st Marquis of San JoséIbarra
Francisco Luis Héctor de CarondeletBaron de CarondeletQuito
Juan Pablo ArenaslawyerQuito
Javier de Ascázubi y MatheulawyerQuito
Francisco Antonio ZealawyerBogotá
Antonio NariñosoldierBogotá
Magdalena Dávalos y MaldonadomagnateRiobamba
Pedro de MontúfarsoldierIbarra
Jacinto de BejaranosoldierGuayaquil

Legacy

Although the School of Concord was short-lived, it has been remembered in Ecuadorian history as an important precursor and harbinger of the local resistance that established Ecuador's independence over the next few decades and transferred political power from the Spanish to local creole elites.