Machado y Morales, Gerardo (1871–1939)

Cuban Liberal Party politician and revolutionary, dictator-president 1925–33. The leader of the centrist Liberal Party from 1920, he defeated Mario Menocal in the 1924 presidential election. Increasingly dictatorial, he amended the constitution in 1928 to extend his term to six years. Economic depression after 1929 focused opposition under the leadership of Ramón Grau San Martín, and government repression prompted US diplomatic intervention in 1933. Following a general strike, Machado was ousted by a military coup in August 1933, led by Fulgencio Batista. He died in exile in Florida.

Backed by the incumbent AlfredoZayas, Machado fought the 1924 election on a nationalist and anti-corruption platform, and his early government imposed taxes on US inward investments, promoted the development of tourism, industries and mining, and constructed a central highway. However, increasing economic and political instability sparked an abortive opposition revolt in 1931, and students and secret societies of middle-class professionals rebelled with Grau. In 1933 the US envoy, Sumner Welles (1892–1961), attempted to resolve the crisis, but Machado was deposed soon afterwards, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes being installed as provisional president.

Machado fought as a general during the revolution of 1895–98 against Spanish rule, and later became a successful businessman. After independence, he served as mayor of Santa Clara and held posts in the cabinet of José Miguel Gómez, president from 1909 to 1913.