José Pedro Varela
![José Pedro Varela y Berro](/Images/godic/202501/21/Jose_Pedro_Varela1411.jpg")
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José Pedro Varela y Berro (19 March 1845 - 24 October 1879) was an Uruguayan sociologist, journalist, politician, and educator. He was born in Montevideo. Uruguay adopted free, compulsory, and secular education in 1876, thanks to the his efforts. It was because of Varela that Uruguay established the 1877 Law of Common Education, which continues to influence Uruguay.