Carlos Saavedra Lamas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlos Saavedra Lamas
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| Born | November 1, 1878 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Died | May 5, 1959 (aged 80) Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Occupation | Politician, academic |
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Carlos Saavedra Lamas (November 1, 1878 – May 5, 1959) was an important Argentine scholar and politician. In 1936, he became the first person from Argentina to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
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About Carlos Saavedra Lamas
Early Life and Family
Carlos Saavedra Lamas was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His family had a long history in Argentina. He later married the daughter of Roque Sáenz Peña, who was a president of Argentina.
Carlos Saavedra Lamas became well-known for two main reasons. First, as Argentina's foreign minister, he helped create international agreements and solve problems between countries. Second, as a professor, he was an expert in laws about workers and international rules.
Education and Teaching Career
Saavedra Lamas was a brilliant student. He studied at Lacordaire College and then at the University of Buenos Aires. He earned his Doctor of Laws degree in 1903 with the highest honors. After studying in Paris and traveling, he became a law professor at the University of La Plata.
He taught there for over forty years. Later, he started a new course in sociology at the University of Buenos Aires. He also taught economics and law. Eventually, he became the president of the University of Buenos Aires.
Work in Labor Laws
Carlos Saavedra Lamas was a leader in two important areas of study in Argentina. One area was labor laws, which are rules about workers' rights and conditions. He wrote several books about labor laws in Argentina. He also believed that there should be worldwide rules for how workers are treated.
He helped create laws for workers in Argentina. He also supported the creation of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 1919. This organization helps improve working conditions around the world. In 1928, he led the ILO Conference in Geneva.
Expert in International Law
His other main area of study was international law. This involves rules that countries agree to follow when dealing with each other. He wrote about how international laws are made and used. He also spoke and wrote about many international topics. These included rules for people seeking safety in other countries, how new lands are settled, and how to keep peace between nations.
Political Career and Achievements
Early Political Roles
Saavedra Lamas started his political career in 1906. He first worked as the director of Public Credit. In 1907, he became the secretary-general for the city of Buenos Aires. In 1908, he was elected to Parliament, where he served two terms.
In Parliament, he helped create laws about water rights, farming, and government money. He was also interested in how Argentina dealt with other countries. He helped save an important agreement between Argentina and Italy. He became an unofficial advisor to the government on foreign treaties. Some people saw him as too traditional and favoring British involvement in Argentina.
Minister of Justice and Education
In 1915, he became the Minister of Justice and Education. In this role, he made important changes to education. He connected different parts of public education. He also developed new programs for vocational and technical training. This helped prepare people for jobs in Argentina's growing industries.
Foreign Minister and Peace Efforts
When General Agustín Pedro Justo became president of Argentina in 1932, he chose Saavedra Lamas as his foreign minister. He held this job for six years and brought great respect to Argentina on the world stage. He played a key role in almost every major diplomatic issue in South America during the 1930s.
He also convinced Argentina to rejoin the League of Nations. This was an international organization working for peace, similar to today's United Nations. Argentina had been out of the League for thirteen years. Saavedra Lamas represented Argentina at many important international meetings.
His most famous work was helping to end the Chaco War. This was a conflict between Paraguay and Bolivia from 1932 to 1935. When he became foreign minister, he immediately started working to find a peaceful solution.
- In 1932, he started the "Declaration of August 3" in Washington. This declaration stated that American countries would not recognize any land changes made by force.
- Next, he created a "Treaty of Nonaggression and Conciliation." Six South American countries signed this in 1933. Later, all American countries signed it at a conference in Montevideo.
- In 1935, he organized a group of six neutral American nations to help mediate the conflict. This led to the fighting stopping between Paraguay and Bolivia.
- In 1934, Saavedra Lamas presented the "South American Antiwar Pact" to the League of Nations. It was well-received and signed by eleven countries.
For all his efforts, he was elected president of the Assembly of the League of Nations in 1936. This was a great honor.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving his role as foreign minister in 1938, Saavedra Lamas went back to teaching. He was president of the University of Buenos Aires for two years (1941–1943). He continued teaching as a professor until 1946.
Saavedra Lamas was known for being very organized and precise in his work. He was also a charming host at home and in his art gallery. He was known for his elegant style of dress. Besides the Nobel Peace Prize, he received many other awards. These included the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor from France and similar honors from ten other countries.
Carlos Saavedra Lamas passed away in 1959 at the age of eighty. His Nobel medal was later found in a pawn shop and put up for auction in 2014. A project was started in Argentina to buy it back, but it was eventually bought by a private collector in Asia.
