Alfredo Baldomir Ferrari (August 27, 1884 – February 25, 1948) was a

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

an soldier, architect and politician. He served as

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

of Uruguay from 1938 to 1943 and is most notable for leading Uruguay to support the Allies during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

Background

Baldomir was born in

Montevideo Montevideo () is the capital and largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . Montevideo is situated on the southern co ...

. He joined the army in 1900 and studied architecture and engineering. He designed many famous buildings in Uruguay, eventually directed the army corps of engineers and worked as a professor. By 1930, Baldomir was becoming involved in politics. He served as chief of police of Montevideo from 1931 to 1934 and as

defense minister A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in s ...

of Uruguay from 1935 to 1938, and was thus strongly identified with the rule of his brother-in-law, then

President of Uruguay The president of Uruguay ( es, Presidente del Uruguay), officially known as the president of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (), is the head of state and head of government of Uruguay. Their rights are determined in the Constitution of Urugu ...

Gabriel Terra José Luis Gabriel Terra Leivas ( Montevideo, 1 August 1873 - Montevideo, 15 September 1942) was a lawyer and politician of batllista origin in Uruguay, and advisor to all Uruguayan governments on diplomatic, Economic and financial issu ...

President of Uruguay

He was elected

in 1938 as a member of the long-ruling Colorado Party. He took office as President on June 19, 1938; the

Vice President of Uruguay The vice president of Uruguay is the person with the second highest position in the executive branch of the Uruguayan government, after the President of Uruguay. The Vice President replaces the elected President in case of his death or absence. The ...

during his period of Presidential office was

Alfredo Navarro Alfredo Navarro (4 May 1868 – 17 May 1951) was a Uruguayan political figure. Background Navarro was a prominent member of the Colorado party in the 1930s. He was a noted medical doctor. Vice President of Uruguay Navarro served as Vice Pres ...

. Baldomir set a high priority in involving Uruguay in international affairs, and appointed the famous diplomat

Alberto Guani Alberto Guani Carrara (14 June 1877 – 26 November 1956) was a Uruguayan jurist, diplomat and the Vice President and President of the Senate from 1943 to 1947. Alberto Guani was born in Montevideo on 14 June 1877. He studied law, and became a we ...

as foreign minister.

World War II

As World War II broke out (Baldomir was President during the

Battle of the River Plate The Battle of the River Plate was fought in the South Atlantic on 13 December 1939 as the first naval battle of the Second World War. The Kriegsmarine heavy cruiser , commanded by Captain Hans Langsdorff, engaged a Royal Navy squadron, command ...

), Baldomir discouraged support for the Axis within the country, and early in 1942, he broke off diplomatic relations with the Axis Powers. In 1942, Baldomir, now a

general A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...

in the army, expanded his powers through a military coup dissolving parliament and declaring an emergency. His term, which was soon to expire, was extended for a year. Soon a new Constitution came into force. In 1943, Baldomir voluntarily held elections and gave up power, but the continued dominance of the Colorados was ensured.

Later life

Baldomir retired from presidency on 1 March 1943. He was the president of

Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay (also known as Banco República or BROU) is a state-owned bank in Uruguay, founded in 1896 under the presidency of Juan Idiarte Borda. It is the most important Uruguayan bank with the largest number of ...

from 1943 to 1946. In 1948 he died of an illness in Montevideo.

Legacy

Baldomir's actions to identity

with the Allied cause in

have lessened his reputation as a controversial historical figure. It may be noted that he was a leading supporter of the previous

, who ruled by decree.

References