He graduated from the University of Paris with a medical degree, with a thesis titled "Fièvres de surmenage" (Fevers of Overwork) which was published in 1888.

[1] He got his first books to read from his mother and his maternal aunt Carmen Pérez de Rodríguez Coello who was a poet and playwright.

In 1914 he was sent to Barcelona to direct the building of the monument to commemorate the heroes of the "October 9 Battle", for which his name is engraved in the pedestal of its column.

He spoke 4 languages, and wrote over 40 books in Spanish and French, which were published in France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Ecuador.

He was married to María Seminario Marticorena with whom he had five children: When he died in 1940 he left behind unfinished books such as Juan Montalvo, El doctor José Recamier and Escritores ecuatorianos.