Visit the Museo Casa de Sucre in Quito
The Museo Casa de Sucre is located in the former home of Antonio José de Sucre in Quito’s Centro Histórica. The museum collection includes clothing, furniture and an interesting assortment of memorabilia related to the Venezuelan general and statesman known as the “Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho” who played an important role in the history of Ecuador, most notably in the Battle of Pichincha in 1822 where his troops defeated the Spanish leading to the liberation of Quito.
The museum building dates back to the early 1700s when it was owned by Sebastian Perez de Ubilus, whose son Felipe Carcelén was the father of Mariana de Carcelén y Larrea, Marquise of Solanda, the wife of Antonio José de Sucre. Having married in April 1828, the couple settled in the house in Quito and their daughter Teresa Sucre was born ten months later. Soon after this happy occasion de Sucre was called to a conference out of the country regarding the dissolution of Gran Colombia – a region that included present day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northwest Brazil and northern Peru. On 4 June 1830 de Sucre was shot in the head by royalist rebels in the Columbian jungle. Upon receiving the news of his death several weeks later, his wife managed to retrieve his body where it was laid to rest in Quito’s Carmen Alto monastery. In 1904 the body of Antonio José de Sucre was moved to Quito’s Cathedral, where it remains until this day. It was well known that Quito, the birthplace of his wife, was dear to his heart and was where he wanted to be buried.
During his career de Sucre served as the 6th President of Perú from 23 June 1823 to 17 July 1823 and 2nd President of Bolivia (which was named by de Sucre in honor of Simon Bolivar) from 29 December 1825 to 18 April 1828. He was a good friend and first lieutenant to Simon Bolivar and would likely have replaced him as the leader of liberated Latin American nations had his life not been cut short by royalist rebels. Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia have named places in his honor, while until the year 2000 the currency of Ecuador was called the Sucre.
