Origins & Early Life

René Emilio Barrientos Ortuño (30 May 1919 – 27 April 1969) was a Bolivian military officer and politician who served as the 47th president of Bolivia from 1964 to 1965 and 1966 to 1969. During his first term, he shared power with Alfredo Ovando as co-president of a military junta and was the 30th vice president of Bolivia in 1964. General Barrientos came to power after the 1964 Bolivian coup d'état which overthrew the government of President Victor Paz Estenssoro. During his three-year rule, Barrientos and the army suppressed leftist opposition to his regime, including a guerrilla group led by Che Guevara in 1967.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

On 27 April 1969, Barrientos was killed in a helicopter crash near Arque, Bolivia. He may have been assassinated, but that has not been conclusively proven. Barrientos was a native of Tarata, department of Cochabamba. His father was of Spanish ancestry while his mother was Quechua. After his father died when he was a child, Barrientos was sent to a Franciscan orphanage.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He left the orphanage at 12 and attended a private high school while working odd jobs to pay the tuition. After graduating, he entered the military academy in La Paz. He was a career military...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1919 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1919
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• 1969 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1969
• April 27 (04-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on April 27