José Félix Estigarribia
José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde (21 February 1888 – 7 September 1940) was a Paraguayan military officer and politician who served as the 34th President of Paraguay from 1939 until his death in a plane crash on September 7, 1940. He is most remembered for his previous role as commander in chief of the Paraguayan Army during the Chaco War, which resulted in an upset victory for Paraguay.
José Félix Estigarribia | |
|---|---|
Estigarribia c. 1939 | |
| 34th President of Paraguay | |
| In office August 15, 1939 – September 7, 1940 | |
| Vice President | Luis Alberto Riart |
| Preceded by | Félix Paiva |
| Succeeded by | Higinio Morínigo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde February 21, 1888 Caraguatay, Paraguay |
| Died | September 7, 1940 (aged 52) Altos, Paraguay |
| Resting place | National Pantheon of the Heroes |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse |
Julia Miranda Cueto (m. 1917) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Trinity College of Agriculture |
| Occupation |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Paraguay |
| Branch/service | Paraguayan Army |
| Years of service | 1911–1940 |
| Rank | Field marshal (posthumously) |
| Battles/wars | Chaco War |
He is recognized for being one of the military officers of the Paraguayan Army who led Paraguay to victory in the Chaco War against Bolivia, having been a prominent military strategist during the armed conflict and considered a war hero. In his life he reached the rank of lieutenant general, being posthumously promoted to field marshal shortly after his death.
In the late 1930s, Estigarribia was courted by both the Colorado Party and Liberal Party to run for president. He decided to join the liberals, who were more dominant at the time. As president he suspended the constitution and replaced it with a new one, which gave him immense power. His authoritarian rule ended after only a year, when him and his wife were killed in a plane crash. He was succeeded by his Minister of War, Higinio Morínigo, who used Estigarribia's constitution to establish a dictatorship.