ACOSTA, Joaquin, Colombian general and author, born in Guaduas, Colombia, 29 December, 1799 do there in 1852. He entered the Colombian army at the age of twenty, and rendered distinguished services as an officer of engineers. He was a member of the convention of New Grenada in 1831, and was afterward a representative in congress. In 1834 he explored the valleys of the Socorro and Magdalena rivers, and in 1841 made researches relative to the Chibocas and other Indian tribes. He was for a time New Grenadan minister to Ecuador, and from 20 July to 8 November, 1842, was charge d'affaires at Washington. Subsequently he held the office of secretary of state in the New Grenadan government. He published in Paris, in 1848, a history of the discovery and settlement of New Grenada, accompanied by a valuable map made by him, the first one published since Colombian independence. He also contributed to the publications of the French geographical society.