Fulgencio Batista

Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar (January 16, 1901 – August 6, 1973) was the military leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1940. He was a farm worker from eastern Cuba, and moved to Havana where he became a stenographer and a sergeant in the Army. He became a leader of a group of sergeants who wanted better pay, and ended up commanding the Army.

Fulgencio Batista
Batista in 1938
9th and 12th President of Cuba
In office October 10, 1940 – October 10, 1944
Vice President	Gustavo Cuervo Rubio
Preceded by	Federico Laredo Brú
Succeeded by	Ramón Grau
In office March 10, 1952 – January 1, 1959
Preceded by	Carlos Prío
Succeeded by	Anselmo Alliegro y Milá
Personal details
Born	Rubén Zaldívar (1901-01-16)January 16, 1901 Banes, Cuba
Died	August 6, 1973(1973-08-06) (aged 72) Marbella, Spain
Nationality	Cuban
Political party	Democratic Socialist Coalition(1940 election) United Action Party (1948–1950s) Progressive Action Party (1950s)
Spouse(s)	Elisa Godinez Gomez de Batista(1926-1946) Marta Fernandez Miranda de Batista(1946-1973)
Children	Mirta Caridad Batista Godínez Elisa Aleida Batista Godínez Fulgencio Rubén Batista Godínez Jorge Batista Fernández Roberto Francisco Batista Fernández Carlos Batista Fernández Fulgencio José Batista Fernández Fermina Lázara Batista Estévez
Occupation	Military, politician
Military service
Allegiance	Cuba
Branch/service	Army
Years of service	1921–1940
Rank	Colonel

Batista's soldiers executing a rebel by firing squad in 1956

Batista was President of Cuba from 1940 to 1944. In 1940 he won the election. He then became the country's leader from 1952 to 1959. In 1952 he did a coup. His authoritarian government during this time caused opposition despite his attempt to placate critics with a 'show' election in 1954 were he ran without opposition. The opposition included the entire coalition that had overthrown President Gerardo Machado. Fidel Castro's guerrilla movement overthrew Batista. This is known as the Cuban Revolution. Batista fled Cuba on January 1, 1959 and went to the Dominican Republic before moving on to Portugal, and finally to Spain where he died of a heart attack in 1973.