Barco Vargas, Virgilio

1921 - Virgilio Barco Vargas was born 17th of September in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander Department, in north-eastern Colombia.

1940 - Vargas exile in the United States because of violence between liberals and conservatives.

1943 - He entered politics when he became a liberal party city council member in the town of Durania.

1945-1946 - Virgilio Barco Vargas served as acting Colombian communications minister.

1954 - Barco returned to Colombia to help negotiate the peace process.

1958-1961 - He served as Colombian public works minister.

1958 - Barco became a member of the Senate, the upper house of Congress.

         - Vargas graduated of Civil Engineer from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

1961 - He served as Ambassador to Britain.

1963-1964 - He served as Colombian agriculture minister.

1964 - Barco was elected mayor of Colombia's capital, Bogotá.

1964 - Virgilio Barco Vargas became the Colombian finance minister.

1974 - He became a director of the World Bank.

1977 - Barco then briefly served as ambassador to the United States.

1986 - Barco was elected president of Colombia.

1990-1992 - Barco served again as Ambassador to Britain.

1997 - Virgilio Barco Vargas died in Bogotá in May 20, 1997.