Luis Somoza Debayle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luis Somoza Debayle
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Somoza Debayle in 1963
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| 26th President of Nicaragua | |
| In office 29 September 1956 – 1 May 1963 (Acting until 2 February 1957) |
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| Preceded by | Anastasio Somoza García |
| Succeeded by | René Schick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 November 1922 León, Nicaragua |
| Died | 13 April 1967 (aged 44) Managua, Nicaragua |
| Political party | Nationalist Liberal Party (PLN) |
| Spouse |
Isabel Urcuyo
(m. 1947) |
| Children | 7 |
Luis Anastasio Somoza Debayle (born November 18, 1922 – died April 13, 1967) was an important political leader in Nicaragua. He served as the 26th President of Nicaragua from 1956 to 1963. His family, the Somozas, played a big role in Nicaragua's history for many years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Luis Somoza Debayle was born in León, a city in Nicaragua. When he was 14, he and his younger brother, Anastasio, went to school in the United States. They first attended Saint Leo College Prep in Florida. Later, they moved to La Salle Military Academy in New York. Luis then studied at Louisiana State University. He was part of a Hispanic student group there called Fi Sigma Alfa. In 1947, Luis married Isabel Urcuyo from Costa Rica. They had seven children together.
Becoming President of Nicaragua
Luis Somoza's father, Anastasio Somoza García, was also a president of Nicaragua. After his father passed away in 1956, Luis became the acting president. The next year, in 1957, he was officially elected president. His time as president was seen as a bit less strict than his father's. However, people still had limited freedoms, and there were problems with corruption.
Key Events During His Rule
During Luis Somoza's presidency, Nicaragua became a key player in creating the Central American Common Market. This was a group of countries working together to improve trade and their economies. The United States supported this effort through a program called the Alliance for Progress.
Luis Somoza also allowed a special operation to happen in Nicaragua. During the Bay of Pigs Invasion, which was an attempt to overthrow the government in Cuba, he let Cuban rebels leave from a port in Nicaragua. These rebels had been trained by the CIA.
In 1961, a group called the Sandinistas began to fight against the government. This struggle would continue for many years.
His Family's Influence
Luis's younger brother, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, was a very powerful person in Nicaragua. He was in charge of the country's army, known as the National Guard. Even though Luis decided not to run for president again in 1963, he and his brother made sure that the next presidents were loyal to their family. This meant that Luis remained the main leader of Nicaragua, even without the official title, until he passed away.
Later Life and Legacy
Before becoming president, Luis Somoza held other important political roles. He was the president of the lower house of the National Congress of Nicaragua from 1950 to 1953 and again from 1954 to 1956. He also served as the president of the Senate from 1965 to 1966. Luis Somoza died in 1967 in Managua at the age of 44, after suffering a serious heart attack. He was buried next to his father in the National Guard Mausoleum in Managua. His wife, Isabel, later moved to the United States and passed away in 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Luis Somoza Debayle para niños
