born July 20, 1868, Salta, Arg.
died April 29, 1932, Paris, Fr.
Argentine soldier and dictator.
Nephew of a former president, he was a firm believer in class privileges. A visit to Germany made him an ardent admirer of Prussian militarism. In 1930 he led a coup against Hipólito Irigoyen 's liberal regime, replacing the governing class with an elite representing the landed oligarchy, dissolving the legislature, and revising the laws to prohibit liberal-radicals from political participation. In 1931 he arranged a fraudulent election to ensure the oligarchy's continued control and stepped down in favour of a fellow officer, Agustín Justo.