Manuel Estrada Cabrera

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Manuel Estrada
Manuel Estrada Cabrera

In office
8 February 1898 – 15 April 1920
Preceded by José María Reina
Succeeded by Carlos Herrera

Born 21 November 1857(1857-11-21)
Quetzaltenango
Died 24 September 1923
Guatemala City

Manuel José Estrada Cabrera (21 November 1857 – 24 September 1923) was President of Guatemala from 8 February 1898 to 15 April 1920.

Manuel Estrada took the presidency after the assassination of José María Reina. He encouraged development of the nation's infrastructure of highways, railroads, and sea ports. The United Fruit Company became an important force in Guatemala during his presidency.

In 1906 Estrada faced serious revolts against his rule; the rebels were supported by the governments of some of the other Central American nations, but Estrada succeeded in putting them down. Estrada continued in power until forced to resign by new revolts in 1920. He was removed from office after the national assembly charged that he was mentally incompetent.

Estrada's Temple of Minerva, Guatemala City, c. 1905. The architrave is inscribed: MANUEL ESTRADA CABRERA PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA A LA JUVENTUD ESTUDIOSA ("Manuel Estrada Cabrera, President of the Republic, to the Studious Youths"). This structure was later demolished during the government of Col. Jacobo Arbenz in the early years of the 1950s, but similar Temples in Quetzaltenango and other cities still stand.

Estrada's most curious legacy was his attempt to foster a Cult of Minerva in Guatemala. He ordered a number of Hellenic style "Temples of Minerva" built in major cities of the country.

Estrada was immortalized in the dictator novel El Señor Presidente (1946), written by the Nobel laureate Miguel Ángel Asturias.

[edit] See also

Preceded by
José María Reina
President of Guatemala
1898–1920
Succeeded by
Carlos Herrera
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