Perón, Juan Domingo
Perón, Juan Domingo (1895-1974), president of Argentina (1946-55 and 1973-74), one of the most remarkable Latin American figures of the 20th century, who wrought long-lasting changes in the nation's politics.
Born in Lobos, Buenos Aires Province, on October 8, 1895, Perón was educated at the Colegio Militar (1911-13) and at the Escuela Superior de Guerra (1926-29). In 1930 he took part in a military uprising against President Hipólito Irigoyen and was appointed private secretary of the minister of war (1930-35). He later taught at the Escuela Superior de Guerra, spent a year in Chile as military attaché, published five books on military history, and traveled to Italy to study alpine military methods. Upon his return to Argentina in 1941, Perón, an admirer of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, joined other officers in a secret military lodge that staged a coup d'état in June 1943. He took over the department of labor and proceeded to transform the labor movement by weakening the influence of left-wing parties on it, enacting new laws and implementing old ones, and creating new unions. As his power grew—he was made vice president as well as minister of war—opposition within the armed forces became widespread. On October 9, 1945, he was forced to resign from his three posts, detained, and imprisoned. Perón's resignation triggered a government crisis that was resolved on October 17, when his labor supporters obtained his release. Four days later, Perón, a widower, married his mistress, Mariá Eva Duarte, who became fondly known as Evita.
Elected president in 1946, Perón pursued prolabor, pronationalist policies, helped by his wife, who became an influential, although informal, member of his government. In the early 1950s, benefits to labor began to diminish. The death of Evita (1952), economic difficulties, increasing labor unrest, and his excommunication by the Roman Catholic church further weakened Perón's government, and in 1955 he was ousted by the military. Through 18 years of exile, however, Perón retained his labor support and influence in Argentine politics. He was finally allowed to return in 1973 and was then elected president, with his third wife, Isabel, as vice president. He died in office on July 1, 1974.
See: Argentina, Perón, Eva ,Perón, Isabel de