born May 21, 1856, Montevideo, Uru.
died Oct. 20, 1929, Montevideo
President of Uruguay (1903–07, 1911–15).
The son of a former president of Uruguay, he was involved in politics from the 1880s. His narrow victory in the 1903 presidential election led to a brief civil war, but when he held new elections in 1905 he won again. He stepped down at the end of his term and was reelected in 1911. He inaugurated labour reforms, limited the profits of foreign-owned businesses, encouraged migration, nationalized and developed public works, ended the death penalty, and protected children born out of wedlock. He is credited with transforming Uruguay into a stable, democratic welfare state.