{i} family name; Juan Peron (1895-1974), former President of Argentina, one of the leaders of the 1943 military coup; Evita Peron (1919-1952); first lady of Argentina and second wife of President Juan Peron
known as Evita orig. María Eva Duarte born May 7, 1919, Los Toldos, Arg. died July 26, 1952, Buenos Aires Second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón and a powerful though unofficial political leader. Born into poverty, she was an actress when she married Perón. She was instrumental in the success of his first presidential campaign and won the adulation of the masses. Evita acted as de facto minister of health and labour, awarding generous wage increases to workers. With "voluntary" contributions from businesses, labour unions, and the elite, she established thousands of hospitals, schools, and orphanages. After her death from cancer at age 33, her grief-stricken working-class followers sought to have her canonized
known as Evita orig. María Eva Duarte born May 7, 1919, Los Toldos, Arg. died July 26, 1952, Buenos Aires Second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón and a powerful though unofficial political leader. Born into poverty, she was an actress when she married Perón. She was instrumental in the success of his first presidential campaign and won the adulation of the masses. Evita acted as de facto minister of health and labour, awarding generous wage increases to workers. With "voluntary" contributions from businesses, labour unions, and the elite, she established thousands of hospitals, schools, and orphanages. After her death from cancer at age 33, her grief-stricken working-class followers sought to have her canonized
orig. María Estela Martínez Cartas born Feb. 4, 1931, La Rioja, Arg. Third wife of Juan Perón and president of Argentina (1974-76). Born into a lower-middle-class family, she was a dancer when she met Perón in 1955 or 1956. They married during his exile in 1961, and she became his running mate in the 1973 presidential election. She succeeded him when he died in 1974, inheriting problems of inflation and political violence, which she tried ineffectively to solve by printing money and imposing a state of siege. She was deposed in 1976; after five years of house arrest, she was convicted of corruption but permitted to go into exile in Spain
orig. María Estela Martínez Cartas born Feb. 4, 1931, La Rioja, Arg. Third wife of Juan Perón and president of Argentina (1974-76). Born into a lower-middle-class family, she was a dancer when she met Perón in 1955 or 1956. They married during his exile in 1961, and she became his running mate in the 1973 presidential election. She succeeded him when he died in 1974, inheriting problems of inflation and political violence, which she tried ineffectively to solve by printing money and imposing a state of siege. She was deposed in 1976; after five years of house arrest, she was convicted of corruption but permitted to go into exile in Spain
born Oct. 8, 1895, Buenos Aires province, Arg. died July 1, 1974, Buenos Aires President of Argentina (1946-55, 1973-74). After attending military school, he served in the 1930s in Italy, where he observed the successes of the Fascists. In 1943 he helped overthrow Argentina's ineffective civilian government. As secretary of labour and social welfare, he built a loyal following among industrial workers, who helped elect him president in 1946. Perón's political views drew on both the far left and the far right: while he showered workers with much-needed benefits, he restricted civil liberties severely. The charisma of his second wife, Eva Perón, greatly increased the regime's standing with the populace. He was reelected in 1951, but a disastrous economic decline and increasing disaffection among many elements of Argentine society led to his overthrow in 1955 by democratically inspired military officers. He lived in exile in Spain for two decades but continued to influence Argentine affairs. When the Peronist party was made legal, he was reelected president in absentia; he died less than a year after returning to Argentina and assuming the presidency. See also Isabel Perón
born Oct. 8, 1895, Buenos Aires province, Arg. died July 1, 1974, Buenos Aires President of Argentina (1946-55, 1973-74). After attending military school, he served in the 1930s in Italy, where he observed the successes of the Fascists. In 1943 he helped overthrow Argentina's ineffective civilian government. As secretary of labour and social welfare, he built a loyal following among industrial workers, who helped elect him president in 1946. Perón's political views drew on both the far left and the far right: while he showered workers with much-needed benefits, he restricted civil liberties severely. The charisma of his second wife, Eva Perón, greatly increased the regime's standing with the populace. He was reelected in 1951, but a disastrous economic decline and increasing disaffection among many elements of Argentine society led to his overthrow in 1955 by democratically inspired military officers. He lived in exile in Spain for two decades but continued to influence Argentine affairs. When the Peronist party was made legal, he was reelected president in absentia; he died less than a year after returning to Argentina and assuming the presidency. See also Isabel Perón