Máximo Santos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Máximo Santos
President of Uruguay
In office 1 March 1882 – 1 March 1886
Preceded by	Francisco Antonino Vidal
Succeeded by	Francisco Antonino Vidal
In office 24 May 1886 – 18 November 1886
Preceded by	Francisco Antonino Vidal
Succeeded by	Máximo Tajes
Personal details
Born	15 April 1847 Pando, Uruguay
Died	19 May 1889 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Political party	Colorado Party

Máximo Benito Santos Barbosa (born April 15, 1847 – died May 19, 1889) was an important leader and military person from Uruguay. He played a big role in his country's history during the late 1800s.

Who Was Máximo Santos?

Early Life and Military Career

Máximo Santos started his career in the military. He worked his way up and became the Minister for War from 1880 to 1882. This meant he was in charge of Uruguay's army. He was also a member of the Colorado Party (Uruguay), one of the main political groups in Uruguay.

In 1882, Miguel Alberto Flangini Ximénez, who was serving as a temporary President of Uruguay, decided to step down. This opened the door for Santos to become president.

Máximo Santos: President of Uruguay

First Time as President (1882-1886)

Máximo Santos became the President of Uruguay in 1882. He served for four years until 1886. During his time as president, he made some important changes.

Creating Flores Department

One of the lasting things Santos did was create a new part of the country called the Flores Department. This area was named after a former president, General Venancio Flores, who had been assassinated. The new department was created from land where Flores had lived.

Working with Other Countries

President Santos also worked to improve Uruguay's relationships with other countries, like Paraguay. However, some people criticized his government because they felt there were problems with fairness and how things were managed.

After his first term, Santos was followed by Francisco Antonino Vidal as president in 1886. Santos then became the President of the Senate of Uruguay for a short time in 1886.

Second Time as President (1886)

Later in 1886, after leaving the presidency, Máximo Santos returned to power for a few months. This was a temporary return to the presidential role.

After this second time as president, Santos was followed by Máximo Tajes. Tajes was also from the Colorado Party, but he and Santos did not get along well. Tajes was still president when Santos passed away.

Life After the Presidency

Traveling and Living Abroad

After leaving the presidency for the second time, Máximo Santos traveled to Europe. He was not able to return to his home country of Uruguay.

He died in 1889, at the age of 42, while living outside Uruguay in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Máximo Santos's Lasting Legacy

Máximo Santos left behind some important buildings. His beautiful home in downtown Montevideo is now used by the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Uruguay. It is known as Palacio Santos.

His country house is now a museum called the Museo de la Memoria. This museum is owned by the government and tells the story of people who suffered during a difficult time in Uruguay's history when the military ruled the country.

See Also

In Spanish: Máximo Santos para niños

• Colorado Party (Uruguay)#Earlier History
• Politics of Uruguay
• Miguel Alberto Flangini Ximénez#Interim President of Uruguay
• Máximo Tajes#President of Uruguay
• Flores Department#History and cultural heritage