Gerardo Machado y Morales

September 29, 1871 (age 67)

Camajuaní, Cuba

He fought in the war against Spain (1895 - 1898) and afterward founded the tobacco firm of Ramos, Machado y Campañía. Machado entered public life in 1896 as mayor of the city of Santa Clara. He was elected president of Cuba in 1924 on a platform promising not to seek reelection and an expanded program of education and economic liberalism. His election to the presidency in 1924 was welcomed by most Cubans, especially the middle class, who thought a sensible businessman would restore order to Cuba’s disrupted society. To counteract economic depression caused by declining sugar prices, Machado instituted a massive program of public works but was accused of enriching himself at public expense. In 1927 he seized control of the Cuban political parties. He soon began to show dictatorial tendencies and persecuted his critics, largely university students and workers, with great cruelty. The Sixth Pan-American Conference met in Havana in 1928 and served to spread the news of his dictatorship to the other American nations. He was reelected in 1928, despite heated opposition from students and professional men, and began to rule even more dictatorially. Disorder became widespread, and in 1933 U. S. Ambassador Sumner Welles, under instructions from Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, tried to mediate between Machado and opposition forces, but a general strike was called, and even the army demanded Machado’s ouster. He was forced into an exile (August 12) from which he never returned.

Gerardo Machado y Morales

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Background

Gerardo Machado y Morales was born at Camajuaní, Cuba on September 29, 1871.

Career

He fought in the war against Spain (1895 - 1898) and afterward founded the tobacco firm of Ramos, Machado y Campañía.

Machado entered public life in 1896 as mayor of the city of Santa Clara. He was elected president of Cuba in 1924 on a platform promising not to seek reelection and an expanded program of education and economic liberalism. His election to the presidency in 1924 was welcomed by most Cubans, especially the middle class, who thought a sensible businessman would restore order to Cuba’s disrupted society. To counteract economic depression caused by declining sugar prices, Machado instituted a massive program of public works but was accused of enriching himself at public expense. In 1927 he seized control of the Cuban political parties.

He soon began to show dictatorial tendencies and persecuted his critics, largely university students and workers, with great cruelty. The Sixth Pan-American Conference met in Havana in 1928 and served to spread the news of his dictatorship to the other American nations.

He was reelected in 1928, despite heated opposition from students and professional men, and began to rule even more dictatorially. Disorder became widespread, and in 1933 U. S. Ambassador Sumner Welles, under instructions from Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, tried to mediate between Machado and opposition forces, but a general strike was called, and even the army demanded Machado’s ouster. He was forced into an exile (August 12) from which he never returned.

Achievements

Gerardo Machado y Morales became one of Cuba’s most powerful dictators.

Connections

He married Elvira Machado Nodal on 28 October 1868 in Villa Clara and they had three daughters: Laudelina (Nena), Ángela Elvira and Berta.

Wife:: Elvira Machado Nodal
Daughter:: Berta Machado-Machado
Daughter:: Ángela Elvira Machado-Machado
Daughter:: Laudelina (Nena) Machado-Machado

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