History

The National Order of Juan Mora Fernández (Orden Nacional Juan Mora Fernández) was founded by decree on July 11, 1991. It is conferred upon foreign or national civilians, in recognition of distinguished diplomatic services of interest to Costa Rica.

The Order is awarded with six grades according with the rank of the recipient. I Class Grand Cross (with gilded breast star) is exclusively awarded to Heads of State; II Class Grand Cross (with silvered breast star) is awarded to Cardinals, Princes, Ministers, and Ambassadors; the Grand Officer is granted to Archbishops and Bishops, Vice Ministers, and main members of the government; the Commander is conferred to business men, and Counsellors; while the Officer is awarded to Consuls and Vice-consuls, and the Knight to undersecretaries, and aggregates.

The Order was named in honour of Juan Mora Fernández (1784,-1854), who was the first elected head of state of Costa Rica, in 1824. He was a liberal and instituted an important agrarian reform in relation to the production of coffee. He was also elected in 1825 and 1829.