Hipólito Unanue
José Hipólito Unanue y Pavón was a physician, naturalist, meteorologist, cosmographer, First Minister of Finance of Peru, Minister of Foreign affairs, Protomédico, university professor, founder of the San Fernando Medical School, representative of Arequipa in the Cortes of Cádiz, President of the Junta de Gobierno, Protector of the province of Arequipa, independence precursor and a Peruvian politician, active in politics in the early years after independence. He served as the President of the Congress from 1822 to 1823.Hipólito Unanue was born in Arica on August 13, 1755 as the son of Antonio Unánue de Montalivert
and Manuela Pavón y Salgado, both from creole families. He studied philosophy and law in a seminary in Arequipa. In 1777, Unanue moved to Lima to study natural sciences. He studied in Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos where he received his bachelor's degree in 1783, graduated in 1786 and became a professor at the same university, establishing his name as an eminent physician.He was one of the founders of Sociedad Académica de Amantes del País in 1790.
In 1824 he was a government functionary as Finance minister for a short period of time. His contributions to Peruvian science were "largely forgotten," during the turbulent period of Peruvian independence.
