General Don Andrés Avelino Cáceres stands among the foremost leaders of Peruvian politics, combining, with extraordinary success, the gifts of a soldier and a statesman, fearless and unyielding on the battlefield, clear-headed and resolute in the cabinet. Born in Ayacucho on the 11th of November, 1838, the hero of many combats has passed his three score and ten years with the same disdain of fatigue in his march with Time that he used to display when outgeneralling the enemy of his country. When only sixteen years of age he solicited and received the appointment of sub-lieutenant in the Ayacucho battalion. He fought with credit under General Castilla, who afterward sent the handsome young soldier to Paris as military attaché to the Peruvian Legation. During the administration of the dictator Prado he was prefect of Cuzco, and when the war of the Pacific began, he was among the first to march to Tarapacá with his famous battalion, “Zepita,” which he commanded as Lieutenant Colonel; his bravery at Tarapacá, Tacna, Chorillos, Miraflores, Pucará, and Huamachuco, made his name renowned in war, as his efforts to establish reform and progress in the government, which he twice directed as chief executive, have brought him fame in the victories of peace. The result of the elections of 1895 was the choice of Don Nicolás de Pierola, a well-known statesman, whose government was one of order and improvement in financial and industrial affairs. During his administration the gold standard was adopted in Peru, the monetary unit being the Peruvian pound, equal in weight and fineness to the English pound sterling. This reform has greatly stimulated the investment of foreign capital in Peru, the stability of exchange being an important factor in attracting all kinds of enterprises. Among other noted reforms, President Pierola secured the reorganization of the army, obtaining from the French government the appointment of a military mission to direct this work; a military school, under the direction of French officers, was established, which has proved eminently satisfactory. To President Pierola is also due the inauguration of the national general postoffice, and projects for the construction of a state prison, an insane asylum, and other edifices. His government was marked by peace and order, and the country made rapid progress in recuperating from the effects of the war of the Pacific. President Pierola was succeeded by President Eduardo Lopez de Romaña, who continued the work of peaceful development, retiring from office at the end of his term to give place to President Manuel Candamo, who was elected in 1903.