Peñaranda del Castillo, Enrique (1892–1969)

Enrique Peñaranda del Castillo (b. 17 November 1892; d. 8 June 1969), president of Bolivia (April 1940–December 1943). Born in Larecaja, La Paz Province, Peñaranda spent most of his life in the military, where he rose in rank from cadet to full general. During the Chaco War he was supreme commander of the military forces. When the younger and more radical officers seized power in 1937, the next year he took a leave of absence from the military. With their fall from power following the death of President Germán Busch in 1939, Peñaranda emerged rapidly as the main Bolivian leader, first as minister of defense and eventually as elected president. He was overthrown three and a half years later by officers with pro-German sympathies who resented Peñaranda's military accomplishments, his conservatism, and his pro-Allies sympathy during World War II.

Peñaranda's strong pro-U.S. foreign policy brought Bolivia much U.S. attention and aid. During Peñaranda's presidency, democratic reforms were undertaken, the legislative branch was strengthened, and the administration was modernized. He spent his postpresidential years in modest circumstances and died in Cochabamba.

See alsoChaco War; World War II.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Quien es quien en Bolivia (1942).

Porfirio Díaz Machicao, Peñaranda, 1940–1943 (1958).

David H. Zook, Jr., The Conduct of the Chaco War (1960).

Additional Bibliography

Farcau, Bruce W. The Chaco War: Bolivia and Paraguay, 1932–1935. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1996.

Irurozqui, Marta. "A bala, piedra y palo": La construcción de la ciudadanía política en Bolívia, 1826–1952. Seville: Diputación de Sevilla, 2000.

                                    Charles W. Arnade