Background
Alfredo Zayas y Alfonso was born on 21 February 1861 in la Habana.
politician president statesman
Alfredo Zayas y Alfonso was born on 21 February 1861 in la Habana.
He earned a law degree.
In 1896 was serving as a member of the Autonomist Party Junta Central, when he was imprisoned by Spanish General Valeriano Weyler. Upon release a year later, Zayas joined the revolutionary forces. Following the defeat of the Spanish, he served in the Department of Justice under the administration of General Leonard Wood.
Alfredo Zayas, a long-time member of the Liberal Party, served as vice president during the José Miguel Gomez administration (1909-1913) but was defeated for the presidency in 1912, when a feud with Gomez gave the election to the Conservatives.
When the Liberals refused him the nomination in 1920, Zayas formed the Partido Popular which, with backing of the Conservatives, gave him victory over his old Liberal Party mentor, Gomez.