FERNANDEZ, Prospero, Costa Rican president, born in San Joss de Costa Rica, 18 July 1834; died there, 11 March 1885. He studied at the University of Guatemala, and in 1852 entered the military service under the new conscription law. In 1854 he became lieutenant, and in 1855 marched with the auxiliary forces of Costa Rica to Nicaragua to repel the invasion of William Walker and his filibusters. He took part during 1856'7 in the battles of Santa Rosa, Jan Jacinto, and Rivas, and finally in 1858, during Walker's second invasion, in the capture of his steamers in the River San Juan. In 1870 he took an active part in the revolution headed by Colonel Tomas Guardia, which broke out on 27 April against the government of President Jesds Jimenez. Dr. Bruno Carranza was appointed provisional president, but resigned on 8 August and Guardia as commander-in-chief succeeded him, but, in view of the hostility of the national assembly, retired to Alajuela, and was proclaimed dictator by the military forces under Fernandez, 7 October Under Guardia's despotic government, Fernandez, promoted to general of division, held aloof from politics, but was for some time governor of the province of Alajuela, in 1881 was appointed commander-in-chief of the military forces of the republic, and in 1882 elected by popular vote to the presidency for the constitutional term of four years. When Guardia died before the expiration of his term, 6 July 1884, Lizano assumed the power for some weeks, and on 10 August Fernandez was installed. His government contributed to the material progress of the country. A revolt that broke out in October 1884, in favor of the expelled Jesuits, was promptly quelled. Before the expiration of his term Fernandez died, and Vice president Bernard() Soto succeeded him.