1827. Gomez founded in Mexico a conservatory of mnsic, but abandoned it for want of pecuniary assistance, and the musical library of the cathe- dral, of which he was appointed director, was ar- ranged by him. In 1854 Gomez became organist of the new cathedral at Tulancingo, but in his latter years sickness prevented him from continu- ing his labors. Among his compositions are : " La Independencia," for piano, flute, and violoncello ; " Miserere," for eight voices and grand orchestra ; a Te Deum ; psalms ; vespers ; matins ; and sev- eral masses ; all for full orchestra.
GOMEZ, Antonio Carlos (go'-meth), Brazilian
musician, b. in Campinas, Sao Paulo, in 1889. His
father was leader of a military band in Campinas,
and cultivated his son's love of music from his
earliest years. At the age of eleven he left school,
and began the study of music. He excelled as a
performer on the piano, and in Sao Paulo gave a
series of concerts with his brother Jose Pedro, a
violinist, in 1856. At that time he composed several
romances and one popular song, " Tao longe de
raim distante," which was soon known all over the
empire. He then went to Rio Janeiro, where he
was admitted to the conservatory of music, and
soon made remarkable progress. In 18(51, when the
national opera was established, Gomez presented
his first opera, " Noites e del castello," which met
with great success. The imperial government gave
him a pension for four years, that he might perfect
his studies in Europe. In 1870 he returned to Bra-
zil. His most noteworthy opera, " Guarany," was
represented for the first time in Rio Janeiro in
1873, and has also been given in several theatres
of Italy and some of the capitals of Europe. His
other operas include "Horca" (1874), '• Salvator
Rosa;' (1875), and " Cromwell " (1876).
GOMEZ, Esteban, Spanish navigator, b. in Ca-
diz, Spain, in 1478 (or, according to Barbosa Ma-
chado, in Oporto in 1474) ; d. at sea in 1580 (or,
according to Barbosa, in Toledo in 1534). He had
served in tlie Portuguese East India fleet, acquii'ed
reputation as a mariner, and was pilot of the " San
Antonio," commanded by Juan de Cartagena, on
Magellan's expedition in 1519. Irritated by his
failure to obtain the appointment of chief pilot of
the expedition, he fomented an insurrection, in
January, 1520, which was promptly suppressed by
Magellan, but Gomez escaped execution with the
other rebels, because his services as pilot were
needed. He afterward incited the crew of the
" San Antonio " to mutiny, and on his arrival
in Portugal, 24 March, 1521, was imprisoned, but
soon set at liberty. In 1524, when the difficulties
between Spain and Portugal respecting the limits
of their colonial discoveries arose, Gomez was one
of the council of pilots appointed to decide this
question, and proposed to the emperor to avoid
these difficulties by seeking a western passage to
the East Indies by the north of the new continent.
His proposal was accepted, and, in command of
a caravel, he left San Lucar in November, 1524.
He reached the coast of Florida in January, 1525,
and continued his voyage north, exploring every
inlet in quest of the desired passage, including one
in about 37° north latitude, probably Chesapeake
bay. On arriving at latitude 42° N. without dis-
covering any western passage, he resolved to re-
turn, but explored the country from the 42d to
the 40th parallel, and filled his vessel with cap-
tured natives, which he sold as slaves on his return
to San Lucar in August, 1521. On presenting
himself at court, he was unfavorably received by
the emperor, who, according to Gomara, reproached
him with the capture of the Indians, as he would
thereby discredit future explorers. He now tried
to interest some merchants in a new expedition of
discovery, and sailed in 1530 with two vessels for
another exploration, but was never heard of again.
Barbosa Machado, in his " Biblioteca Lusitana."
says that Gomez died in Toledo in 1534 in high fa-
vor at court. Gomez left a manuscript diary of his
voyage, published in 1529 by the cosmographer
Diego Ribera, with a map, in which the position
of the present states of Connecticut, Rhode Island,
and Massachusetts is marked "Land of Esteban
Gomez, discovered by him in 1525, by order of His
Majesty ; abundance of trees, game, salmon, tur-
bot. and soles, but no gold is found."
GOMEZ, Valentin, Argentine statesman, b. in
Buenos Ayres in 1774; d. there in 1833. He w;;s
graduated at the University of Cordoba as doctor
in theology in 1795, and at the University of Cliu-
quisaca in civil and canonical law in 1796. He was
appointed professor of philosophy in the Univer-
sity of Cordoba in 1799, took holy orders in 1802,
and soon afterward was appointed prebendary
canon of the cathedral of that city. When the war
of independence began in 1810, he espoused the
cause of liberty, protecting the patriots from the
persecutions of the royalists, and collecting sub-
scriptions for the revolutionary cause. At the bat-
tle of Piedi'as he fought so valiantly that he was
mentioned honorably in the general order of the
day. After the triumph of independence, he set-
tled in Buenos Ayres, and was for several years rec-
tor of the university of that city. He was elected
deputy to congress, and became secretary and presi-
dent of that body. He was appointed minister
to London in 1821, and in 1823 to Brazil.
GOMEZ-FARIAS, Valentin (go'-meth-fah-re-as), Mexican statesman, b. in Guadalajara, 14 Feb., 1781 ;_d. in the city of Mexico in July, 1858. He studied medicine in his native city, and in 1810 was appointed professor of the university. Later he practised in Aguas Calientes, and joining the cause of independence he equipped a battalion at his own expense. After the fall of Iturbide, he was elected a member of the first constituent congress, and attracted the hatred of the church party by his liberal principles. After the fall of Gen. Bustamante and the short administration of Gomez Pedraza, he was elected vice-president with Santa-Anna, and, as the latter was absent, assumed the executive on 1 April, 1833. He immediately abolished the legal expropriation for unpaid church-tithes, prohibited the admission of new monks to the existing cloisters, and attacked the privileges which military chiefs had arrogated. In consequence there were several revolts, but these were soon quelled. The clergy now tried to bribe Gomez by the offer of a fortune ; but he refused indignantly, and on 4 Jan., 1835, a so-called constitutional congress assembled, which refused to acknowledge the authority of the president. Gomez, tired of the struggle, left the country, but in 1838 returned to Mexico, where he was received by a public ovation. The jealousy of the president, Bustamante, caused him to be sent to prison, but he was rescued by a popular rising. In 1840 he led an unsuccessful attempt at revolution, and was banished a second time. He returned to Mexico in 1845, and in 1846 was again elected vice-president, with Santa-Anna as president. As the latter had to take command of the army in the war with the United States, Gomez took charge of the executive; but in February, 1847, there was a revolt against him, which continued till 21 March, when it was quelled l)y Santa-Anna. The vice-presidency was abolished by a decree of the
