He was a moderate of Guatemala's Liberal Party, who worked to solidify the less controversial of the reforms of late president Justo Rufino Barrios.

José María Reyna Barrios was born in San Marcos, Guatemala and was nicknamed Reynita, the diminutive form, because of his short stature.

1885, Reyna Barrios increased his political activity under the government of Manuel Lisandro Barillas, who was jealous of his popularity and sent him to Europe under false pretenses that there was a diplomatic appointment for him.

[3] The candidates who ran for office were: Barillas Bercian was unique among all liberal presidents of Guatemala between 1871 and 1944: he handed over power to his successor peacefully.

The official agents did their job: Reyna was elected president[6] and, not to offend the losing candidates, Barillas gave them checks to cover the costs of their presidential campaigns.

During his second term, Barrios printed bonds to fund his ambitious plans, fuelling monetary inflation and the rise of popular opposition to his regime.

As part of the efforts for the Central American Expo, his government embellished the city with avenues and monuments following Parisian style and built the Northern Railroad of Guatemala.

Completing a transoceanic railway was a main objective of his government, with a goal to attract international investors at a time when the Panama Canal was not built yet.

8 on 8th Street in Guatemala City at 8:00 PM local time[12][13] by Edgar Zollinger, a British citizen and administrator of the Aparicio Family business, who shot him with a .38 caliber revolver.