Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Carlos Castillo Armas

Role / Field:

Guatemalan military officer and politician who served as President from 1954 to 1957.

Born:

1914-11-04

Died:

1957-07-26

Century / Era:

1914s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Carlos Castillo Armas (locally ['kaɾlos kas'tiʝo 'aɾmas]; 4 November 1914 – 26 July 1957) was a Guatemalan military officer and politician who was the 28th president of Guatemala, serving from 1954 to 1957 after taking power in a coup d'état. A member of the far-right National Liberation Movement (MLN) party, his authoritarian government was closely allied with the United States. Born to a planter, out of wedlock, Castillo Armas was educated at Guatemala's military academy. A protégé of Colonel Francisco Javier Arana, he joined Arana's forces during the 1944 uprising against President Federico Ponce Vaides.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

This began the Guatemalan Revolution and the introduction of representative democracy to the country. Castillo Armas joined the General Staff and became director of the military academy. Arana and Castillo Armas opposed the newly elected government of Juan José Arévalo; after Arana's failed 1949 coup, Castillo Armas went into exile in Honduras. Seeking support for another revolt, he came to the attention of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In 1950 he launched a failed assault on Guatemala City, before escaping back to Honduras.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Influenced by lobbying by the United Fruit...

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• 1914 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1914
• November 4 (11-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 4
• 1957 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1957
• July 26 (07-26) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 26

Frequently Asked Questions about Carlos Castillo Armas