Victoriano Hermión, President of New Granada.
Victoriano Hermión (1838? - 1906) was a member of the Hermión family who was the elder son of Mexican President Pedro Hermión. He was the first President of New Granada.
Little is known of Victoriano's life before 1890. It is likely that he played a prominent role in his younger brother Benito Hermión's ventures, including a senior management position in the Jefferson & California Railroad, an administrative position in the Constabulary, and various positions in the government of the United States of Mexico during his brother's dictatorship as Chief of State. This experience as a loyal member of his brother's administration would have prepared Victoriano to act as his brother's viceroy after the conquest of New Granada in the War for Salvation. Sobel describes Victoriano as being quieter and more modest than his brother, and states that while he was unable to win the affection of the New Granadans, he was able to earn their respect, and that towards the end of his life, he came to think of himself as more Granadino than Mexican.
Benito Hermión's fall from power presented New Granada's political leaders with a dilemma. Kramer Associates President Diego Cortez y Catalán, who had engineered Benito's ouster, would undoubtedly have been willing and able to remove his brother from power in New Granada as well. However, there was no denying that the eleven years of Victoriano's rule had produced greater political stability and prosperity than anywhere else in Latin America. Fearing the chaos that his removal might produce, the New Granadans asked Victoriano to remain in office.
Upon his death in 1906, Victoriano was succeeded as president by his son Carl Hermión.