Restrepo, José Manuel, 1781-1863

"José Manuel Restrepo Vélez (1781 - 1863) fue un político e historiador colombiano. Nació en el municipio de Envigado en el departamento de Antioquia, el 30 de diciembre de 1781. Fueron sus padres, don José Miguel Restrepo Puerta y doña Leonor Vélez Calle, ambos oriundos de familias antiguas y distinguidas en el país. Su padre era agricultor y dueño de minas de oro, en cuyos trabajos se ocupó siempre."

"José Manuel Restrepo Vélez (30 December 1781 - 1 April 1863) was an investigator of Colombian flora, political figure and historian. The Orchid genus Restrepia was named in his honor. Restrepo was born in the town of Envigado, Antioquia in the Colombian Mid-west. He graduated as a lawyer from the Colegio de San Bartolomé in the city of Santa Fe de Bogotá. He later worked as Secretary for Juan del Corral and Governor Dionisio Tejada during their dictatorial government over Antioquia. From 1811 to 1814 became a Deputy Representative of Antioquia during the Congress of the United Provinces of New Granada. After the Independence from Spain was achieved by Simon Bolivar, Restrepo became governor of Antioquia in 1819 during the Greater Colombia. Restrepo was profoundly interested on geography and fauna of Antioquia and an orchid flower was named in his honor, the Restrepia."