José Félix Estigarribia
Encyclopedia
Marshal José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde (born February 21, 1888; Caraguatay
– died September 7, 1940; Altos
) was a decorated Paraguay
an war hero and President of Paraguay
for the Liberal party
. Educated as an agronomist
, he joined the national Army in 1910 and spent time in Chile
and in Saint Cyr's military academy in France
for additional training. He commanded the First Infantry division during the Chaco War
and was promoted successively to brigadier
, division general
, and commander-in-chief
of the armed forces. In 1935, he made a victorious return to Asuncion as "Hero of the Chaco War" and was awarded a lifetime pension of 1,000 gold pesos a month. He was dismissed from the position of armed forces chief after President Eusebio Ayala
was overthrown in the Febrerista revolution by Rafael Franco, but served as Paraguay's minister to the United States.
Estigarribia was elected President for a four-year term in 1939, assuming office on August 15. Six months later (February 19, 1940), Estigarriba dissolved the legislature and suspended the Constitution, declaring that "our nation is on the edge of horrible anarchy." He then pushed through a new Constitution which granted broad powers to the president.
On September 7, 1940, Estigarriba and his wife were on a tour of the Paraguayan interior. On a trip from Altos to his country residence in San Bernardinos, his plane crashed in Agapuey and all on board were killed. Estigarribia was succeeded by Higinio Morínigo
and posthumously promoted to the rank of marshal
.
Caraguatay, Paraguay
Caraguatay is a distrito and town located in the Vapor Cué region of the Cordillera Department in Paraguay. The livelihood of most citizens includes farming, fishing, and local trading.-Climate:...
– died September 7, 1940; Altos
Altos
Altos is a district and locality of the Cordillera Department, Paraguay.-Etymology:It is also called “Altos de Ybypytaré”, which in Guaraní means “path of the wind”, previously called “San Lorenzo de la Cordillera de los Altos”, one of the oldest cities of Paraguay...
) was a decorated Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
an war hero and President of Paraguay
President of Paraguay
The President of Paraguay is according to the Paraguayan Constitution the Chief of the Executive branch of the Government of Paraguay...
for the Liberal party
Liberal Party (Paraguay)
The Liberal Party , commonly known as the Blue Party was a political party in Paraguay, ruling the country for most of the period between 1904 and 1940.-References:...
. Educated as an agronomist
Agronomist
An agronomist is a scientist who specializes in agronomy, which is the science of utilizing plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. An agronomist is an expert in agricultural and allied sciences, with the exception veterinary sciences.Agronomists deal with interactions between plants, soils, and...
, he joined the national Army in 1910 and spent time in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and in Saint Cyr's military academy in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for additional training. He commanded the First Infantry division during the Chaco War
Chaco War
The Chaco War was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region of South America, which was incorrectly thought to be rich in oil. It is also referred to as La Guerra de la Sed in literary circles for being fought in the semi-arid Chaco...
and was promoted successively to brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
, division general
Division General
Division General was a military rank in the Bosnian army from 1992 to 1998.See also: Divisional General...
, and commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the armed forces. In 1935, he made a victorious return to Asuncion as "Hero of the Chaco War" and was awarded a lifetime pension of 1,000 gold pesos a month. He was dismissed from the position of armed forces chief after President Eusebio Ayala
Eusebio Ayala
Eusebio Ayala was President of Paraguay from 7 November 1921 to 12 April 1923 and again from 15 August 1932 to 17 February 1936. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He was overthrown by Rafael Franco.- His Life :...
was overthrown in the Febrerista revolution by Rafael Franco, but served as Paraguay's minister to the United States.
Estigarribia was elected President for a four-year term in 1939, assuming office on August 15. Six months later (February 19, 1940), Estigarriba dissolved the legislature and suspended the Constitution, declaring that "our nation is on the edge of horrible anarchy." He then pushed through a new Constitution which granted broad powers to the president.
On September 7, 1940, Estigarriba and his wife were on a tour of the Paraguayan interior. On a trip from Altos to his country residence in San Bernardinos, his plane crashed in Agapuey and all on board were killed. Estigarribia was succeeded by Higinio Morínigo
Higinio Morínigo
General Higinio Morínigo Martínez was a Paraguayan dictator, general and political figure. He served as the President of Paraguay from 7 September 1940 to 3 June 1948....
and posthumously promoted to the rank of marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
.