Mario García Menocal
Encyclopedia
Aurelio Mario García Menocal y Deop (December 17, 1866, Jagüey Grande
, Matanzas
, Cuba
– September 7, 1941 in Santiago de Cuba
, Cuba
) was President of Cuba
, from 1913 to 1921. His terms as president saw Cuba's participation in World War I.
in New York, and later at the Maryland Agricultural College. In 1884, he then went to Cornell University
where he graduated in 1888 from the School of Engineering. While at Cornell University
, he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity (Delta Chi Chapter) As a young man he was involved in Cuba's fight for independence from Spain
. When Cuba did receive independence following the Spanish-American War
, García Menocal became a leading conservative
politician.
on April 7, 1917, entering World War I
a day after the United States. This was believed by many to be an attempt to get the United States to give more support to his government.
While in office, García Menocal hosted the 1920 Delta Kappa Epsilon National Convention, the first international fraternity conference outside the US, which took place in Cuba. Private trains were hired from New England to Florida where the invited men and their families could travel in comfort and style, and upon arrival in Cuba each man was gifted a gold-trimmed box of cigars. García Menocal's hospitality is still remembered in the fraternity to this day.
when it failed. After less than five years he returned to Cuba and ran for President a final time in 1936.
Jagüey Grande, Cuba
Jaguey Grande is a municipality in the Matanzas Province of Cuba. It is located east of the Zapata Peninsula, north of the Bahia de Cochinos, along the Carretera Central, in the center of the province.-Demographics:...
, Matanzas
Matanzas
Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. It is famed for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.It is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas , east of the capital Havana and west of the resort town of Varadero.Matanzas is called the...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
– September 7, 1941 in Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
) was President of Cuba
President of Cuba
--209.174.31.28 18:43, 22 November 2011 The President of Cuba is the Head of state of Cuba. According to the Cuban Constitution of 1976, the President is the chief executive of the Council of State of Cuba...
, from 1913 to 1921. His terms as president saw Cuba's participation in World War I.
Youth
García Menocal was thirteen when he was sent to boarding schools in the United States, first at the Chappaqua Mountain InstituteChappaqua Mountain Institute
Chappaqua Mountain Institute was a private co-educational college preparatory school in Chappaqua, New York founded by the Quakers in 1870. The school closed in 1908 and re-opened in Valhalla, New York where it eventually became a girls-only boarding school. Highly regarded in its day, it was...
in New York, and later at the Maryland Agricultural College. In 1884, he then went to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
where he graduated in 1888 from the School of Engineering. While at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
fraternity (Delta Chi Chapter) As a young man he was involved in Cuba's fight for independence from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. When Cuba did receive independence following the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, García Menocal became a leading conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
politician.
Time in office
Mario García Menocal was elected President in 1912 and became known for his strong support of business and corporations. He was reelected in 1916, though the election was challenged by the liberals. In perhaps his most notable action, García Menocal authorized Cuba's declaration of war against GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on April 7, 1917, entering World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
a day after the United States. This was believed by many to be an attempt to get the United States to give more support to his government.
While in office, García Menocal hosted the 1920 Delta Kappa Epsilon National Convention, the first international fraternity conference outside the US, which took place in Cuba. Private trains were hired from New England to Florida where the invited men and their families could travel in comfort and style, and upon arrival in Cuba each man was gifted a gold-trimmed box of cigars. García Menocal's hospitality is still remembered in the fraternity to this day.
Later life
After his presidency, García Menocal continued to be involved in politics, running for President again in 1924. He attempted a revolution in 1931, and went into exile in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when it failed. After less than five years he returned to Cuba and ran for President a final time in 1936.
Family
García Menocal was married to Mariana Seva y Rodríguez and they had three children, Mario (who married Hortensia Almagro), Raúl (who married Perlita Fowler) and Georgina García Menocal y Seva (who married Eugenio Sardina).Sources
- Fogle, Homer William Jr. (25 Nov 2005). The Deke House at Cornell: A Concise History of the Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon, 1870-1930. Cf. pp. 27, 57, 60, 64, 66-69. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
- Minot, John Clair (February 1921). "The Convention in Havana," Delta Kappa Epsilon Quarterly, XXXIX, 1, p. 1-25. (Spanish)