Background
Aparicio Méndez Manfredini was born in Rivera on 24 August 1904.
Aparicio Méndez Manfredini was born in Rivera on 24 August 1904.
He was educated at the Universidad de la República in Montevideo, and practiced law between 1920 and 1970.
He was a history teacher in two secondary schools, and professor of administrative law at the Universidad de la República, 1930-1955. He served as legal advisor and head of the Juridical Office of Montevideo, 1935-1938; and member of the Electoral Court, 1943— 1946.
Méndez was a leader of the Blanco Party, serving as member of the Chamber of Deputies and as minister of public health between 1961 and 1964. In 1973 he became a member of the Council of State created by the military regime and its first vice president between 1974 and 1976. The military chose him to succeed President Juan Maria Bordaberry whom they deposed in 1976. Méndez served in the presidency until 1981.