Roca, Julio Argentino

(1843–1914) was an army general who served as President of Argentina from 1880 to 1886 and again from 1898 to 1904. While in the army, he applied ruthless measures to subdue and destroy the Indian communities of the Pampas. This Desert Campaign proved wildly popular among the Argentine electorate who chose Roca as their president the next year. Roca was only 37 when first elected, the youngest president in the nation’s history, and served two terms during periods of booming national prosperity. Yet, the Desert Campaign continues to define his legacy.