Fruto Chamorro, a Central American statesman, born in Guatemala in 1800, died March 12, 1855. He belonged to an old and wealthy Spanish family, but joined the national cause and became a member of the legislature of Nicaragua and of the constituent assembly, and a senator (1838-'42); and when in 1843 an attempt was made for a partial confederation of San Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, he was chosen supreme delegate with executive power. He retired in 1841, after having averted a war declared against Guatemala. Subsequently he became civil and military governor of S. Nicaragua, and in 1851 secretary of the treasury; and after the outbreak in August which drove Pineda from power, he succeeded him as general-in-chief. He was chief magistrate, or supreme director, in 1853-'4, and was defeated by a body of insurgents, and besieged for nearly 300 days at Granada, the besiegers retiring Feb. 10, 1855.

Chamoniilla medicinalis.