José Félix Estigarribia
| José Félix Estigarribia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 47th President of Paraguay | |
|
In office August 15, 1939 – September 7, 1940 |
|
| Preceded by | Félix Paiva |
| Succeeded by | Higinio Morínigo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 21, 1888 Caraguatay,Paraguay |
| Died | September 7, 1940 (aged 52) Altos, Paraguay |
| Nationality | Paraguayan |
| Political party | Liberal party |
| Alma mater | Trinity College of Agriculture |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Paraguayan Army |
| Years of service | 1911–1936 |
| Rank | commander-in-chief |
| Battles/wars | Chaco War |
Marshal José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde (February 21, 1888 in Caraguatay – September 7, 1940 in Altos) was a decorated Paraguayan war hero and an elected President of Paraguay for the Liberal party, who following his election, repositioned himself to become dictator. He died in a presumed accidental airplane crash barely a year after his election.
Estigarribia was of humble origin, son of a peasant and silversmith, Mateo Estigarribia, and Casilda Insaurralde. Born in San Roque rural town of Santa Elena, Department of Cordillera, Paraguay. Elementary school was made in his hometown and in 1908 went to study at Trinity College of Agriculture, a college of agriculture. However, after obtaining his diploma, Estigarribia switched careers and in 1910 enlisted in the army with the rank of Lieutenant of Infantry.
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 Asunción 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 ambassador to the United States.
He completed courses in Chile, from 1911 to 1913, the Military School of Bernardo O'Higgins . In 1917 he was promoted to captain. Played an important role in the revolution of 1922 in Paraguay and was later promoted to Major. For their skills was selected to attend the course staff, three-year at the École Supérieure de Guerre at Paris, where he was a disciple of General Maurice Gamelin and Marshal Foch. Estigarribia graduated there with top notes. On his return in 1928 was appointed Chief of Staff of the Army. Less than a year after being named was removed from office because of disagreements with the government regarding the strategy for defending the Chaco, "The Chaco should be advocated abandoning it," he argued, that is, the point was not occupy the land but to destroy the enemy. However, as the war against Bolivia seemed inevitable, the government decided that Lieutenant Colonel Estigarribia was the man who was needed in the Chaco. He was then 44 years. Small of stature, so peaceful, introspective, or his personality or his austere uniform of campaign-whose sleeves were invariably short-set him apart from the rest of the officers.
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