Sáenz Peñ, Roque a (1851–1914)

Argentine politician and president 1910–14. His administration was principally renowned for electoral reform, and Sáenz was instrumental in establishing a statute that enabled the land-owning oligarchy to be replaced by a new party, known as the Radicals (led by Hipólito Irigoyen). Sáenz, however, did not live to see the outcome of his political reforms, dying two years before the official end of his term in office.

Sáenz was born in Buenos Aires, the son of former president Luis Sáenz Peña (1892–95). Sáenz had a varied and active career. In the 1870s, before entering into political life, he travelled throughout Europe. He served as a cabinet minister in the foreign office, and was posted as a diplomat to Spain in 1901 and to Italy in 1907.