Avellaneda, Nicolas (1837-1885)

Argentine politician and academic, president of Argentina 1874-80. During his presidency, the country began to industrialize, but the expeditions he sent into the southern region of Patagonia (annexed by Argentina in 1881) committed atrocities against the Native Indian people.

Born at Tucumán, Avellaneda became a member of Congress in 1860, professor of political economy in 1861, and minister of public instruction in 1868. A year after taking office as president, he put down the insurrection led by ex-President Bartólomé Mitre.