Gabriel Terra
Encyclopedia
Dr. Gabriel Terra Leivas (August 1, 1873 – September 15, 1942) was the President of Uruguay
from 1931 to 1938.
to a wealthy family, he graduated from the University of Uruguay in 1895, and subsequently joined the faculty.
He began his career as a member of the Colorado Party
under his predecessor as president, José Batlle y Ordóñez
in a number of government roles. From 1925 he was the minister for Industry and Employment.
His nephew Horacio Terra Arocena
served as a Senator. His great-nephew Juan Pablo Terra
served as a Deputy and a Senator.
Terra predominantly ruled harshly and by diktat
, put in jail university professionals, or isolated them on an island, “Isla de Flores” his political opponents, but continuing most of the socialist reforms begun by his predecessor. He brutally suppressed a revolt against him in 1935. Particularly after 1933, Terra was tellingly closer politically to his nominal National Party (Uruguay)
opponent Dr. Luis Alberto de Herrera
than he was to many of his Colorado Party (Uruguay)
colleagues.
Terra's interior minister
was Alberto Demichelli, who much later was himself to become President of Uruguay
as an interim measure in 1976. Demichelli's wife, Sofía Álvarez Vignoli de Demicheli
, was noted for her diplomatic activity during Terra's Presidency.
Terra's Vice President
was César Charlone
, who served from 1934 to 1938.
Terra was noted for bringing into his government former opposition figures such as Martín Echegoyen
, who himself later became President of Uruguay
and, like Alberto Demicheli
subsequently participated prominently in the civilian-military rule which took office under Juan María Bordaberry
after 1973.
He broke off relations with the USSR and the Spanish Republic, while he met Roosevelt and Britain regarding his debts to them. Later he made a close friendship with Hitler and Mussolini who lent him a loan with no return to construct the “Rincón del Bonete Hydro Dam and Power Plant”
President of Uruguay
The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the head of state of Uruguay. His or her rights are determined in the Constitution of Uruguay. Conforms with the Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the executive branch...
from 1931 to 1938.
Background
Born in MontevideoMontevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
to a wealthy family, he graduated from the University of Uruguay in 1895, and subsequently joined the faculty.
He began his career as a member of the Colorado Party
Colorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
under his predecessor as president, José Batlle y Ordóñez
José Batlle y Ordóñez
José Pablo Torcuato Batlle y Ordóñez was the president of Uruguay in 1899 and from 1903 until 1907 and for a further term from 1911 to 1915. He was the son of former president, Lorenzo Batlle y Grau. His children César, Rafael and Lorenzo Batlle Pacheco were actively engaged in politics...
in a number of government roles. From 1925 he was the minister for Industry and Employment.
His nephew Horacio Terra Arocena
Horacio Terra Arocena
-Background:From a prominent political family, his uncle Gabriel Terra was President of Uruguay 1931-1938; his son Juan Pablo Terra served as a Deputy and a Senator.He was an architect by profession.-Political office:...
served as a Senator. His great-nephew Juan Pablo Terra
Juan Pablo Terra
-Background:His father Horacio Terra Arocena served as a Senator. His great-uncle Gabriel Terra was President of Uruguay 1931-1938.-Political offices:Juan Pablo Terra served both as a Deputy and a Senator ....
served as a Deputy and a Senator.
President of Uruguay
After being selected to lead the country by the congress in 1930, he came to power in 1931. He suspended the congress in 1933, disbanded the special body set up by the constitution in 1919 to provide checks and balances. This was soon followed by the total abolition of the constitution, and the merger of state powers with the presidency. He produced a new constitution in 1934 and he put himself up for election, and was elected under a shroud of suspicion.Terra predominantly ruled harshly and by diktat
Diktat
A diktat is a harsh penalty or settlement imposed upon a defeated party by the victor, or a dogmatic decree. Historically, it was particularly used in Germany to refer to the Treaty of Versailles....
, put in jail university professionals, or isolated them on an island, “Isla de Flores” his political opponents, but continuing most of the socialist reforms begun by his predecessor. He brutally suppressed a revolt against him in 1935. Particularly after 1933, Terra was tellingly closer politically to his nominal National Party (Uruguay)
National Party (Uruguay)
The National Party , also known as the White Party , is a major right-wing conservative political party in Uruguay, currently the major opposition party to the ruling Frente Amplio government....
opponent Dr. Luis Alberto de Herrera
Luis Alberto de Herrera
Luis Alberto de Herrera was a Uruguayan lawyer and politician.-Political and diplomatic roles:A National leader of great importance during the first half of the 20th century; he led the National Party through the most decisive instances along five decades...
than he was to many of his Colorado Party (Uruguay)
Colorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
colleagues.
Terra's interior minister
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
was Alberto Demichelli, who much later was himself to become President of Uruguay
President of Uruguay
The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the head of state of Uruguay. His or her rights are determined in the Constitution of Uruguay. Conforms with the Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the executive branch...
as an interim measure in 1976. Demichelli's wife, Sofía Álvarez Vignoli de Demicheli
Sofía Álvarez Vignoli de Demicheli
Sofía Álvarez Vignoli was an Uruguayan jurist and briefly First Lady of Uruguay, who was active in the struggle to achieve Women's Suffrage.-Background:She met her future husband Dr. Alberto Demicheli when they were both law students in Montevideo...
, was noted for her diplomatic activity during Terra's Presidency.
Terra's Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
was César Charlone
César Charlone (politician)
César Charlone was a Uruguayan political figure.-Background:Charlone was prominent member of the Uruguayan Colorado Party during the 1930s.-Vice President of Uruguay:...
, who served from 1934 to 1938.
Terra was noted for bringing into his government former opposition figures such as Martín Echegoyen
Martín Echegoyen
Martín Recaredo Echegoyen was a Uruguayan political figure .- Political background :Echegoyen was a member of the Uruguayan National Party, which in 1959 broke the longstanding tradition of Colorado Party Presidents....
, who himself later became President of Uruguay
President of Uruguay
The President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the head of state of Uruguay. His or her rights are determined in the Constitution of Uruguay. Conforms with the Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the executive branch...
and, like Alberto Demicheli
Alberto Demicheli
Alberto Pedro Demicheli Lizaso was a Uruguayan political figure. Demicheli was a de facto President of Uruguay in 1976...
subsequently participated prominently in the civilian-military rule which took office under Juan María Bordaberry
Juan María Bordaberry
Juan María Bordaberry Arocena was a Uruguayan politician and cattle rancher, who first served as President from 1972 until 1976, including as a dictator from 1973 until his ouster in a 1976 coup...
after 1973.
He broke off relations with the USSR and the Spanish Republic, while he met Roosevelt and Britain regarding his debts to them. Later he made a close friendship with Hitler and Mussolini who lent him a loan with no return to construct the “Rincón del Bonete Hydro Dam and Power Plant”
External links
- (photo:) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Terra1913.jpg