Roque Sáenz Peña

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Sáenz Peña and the second or maternal family name is Lahitte.
Roque Sáenz Peña
17th President of Argentina
In office
October 12, 1910  August 9, 1914
Vice President Victorino de la Plaza
Preceded by José Figueroa Alcorta
Succeeded by Victorino de la Plaza
Personal details
Born (1851-03-19)March 19, 1851
Buenos Aires
Died August 9, 1914(1914-08-09) (aged 63)
Buenos Aires
Nationality Argentina
Political party National Autonomist Party
Spouse(s) Rosa Isidora González Delgado
Profession Lawyer

Roque Sáenz Peña Lahitte (March 19, 1851 August 9, 1914) was President of Argentina from 12 October 1910 to 9 August 1914, when he died in office. He was the son of former President Luis Sáenz Peña.

He was responsible for passing Law 8871, known as "Sáenz Peña Law", which greatly reformed the Argentine electoral system, making the vote secret, universal and compulsory for males over 18. This effectively ended the rule by electoral fraud of the conservative Argentine oligarchy, and paved the way for the rise of the Radical Civic Union in the first free elections of the country. President Roque Sáenz Peña Avenue in Buenos Aires is named after him.

He also served in the War of the Pacific as a lieutenant colonel of the Peruvian Army, and was made prisoner by Chile for six months following the Battle of Arica. He later served as Ambassador to Spain (1906–1907) and Italy (1907–1910)

His daughter married Carlos Saavedra Lamas, academic and politician, and the first Latin American Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Reference

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Political offices
Preceded by
José Figueroa
President of Argentina
19101914
Succeeded by
Victorino de la Plaza
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