Marshal José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde (born February 21, 1888; Caraguatay – died September 7, 1940; Altos) was a decorated Paraguayan war hero and President of Paraguay for the Liberal party. Educated as an agronomist, he joined the national Army in 1910 and spent time in Chile and in Saint Cyr's military academy in France for additional training. He commanded the First Infantry division during the Chaco War and was promoted successively to brigadier, division general, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. In 1935, he made a victorious return to Asuncion as "Hero of the Chaco War" and was awarded a lifetime pension of 1,000 gold pesos a month. He was dismissed from the position of armed forces chief after President Eusebio Ayala was overthrown in the Febrerista revolution by Rafael Franco, but served as Paraguay's minister to the United States.
Estigarribia was elected President for a four-year term in 1939, assuming office on August 15. Six months later (February 19, 1940), Estigarriba dissolved the legislature and suspended the Constitution, declaring that "our nation is on the edge of horrible anarchy." He then pushed through a new Constitution which granted broad powers to the president.
On September 7, 1940, Estigarriba and his wife were on a tour of the Paraguayan interior.[1] On a trip from Altos to his country residence in San Bernardinos, his plane crashed in Agapuey and all on board were killed.[2] Estigarribia was succeeded by Higinio Morínigo and posthumously promoted to the rank of marshal.
| Preceded by Félix Paiva |
President of Paraguay 1939-1940 |
Succeeded by Higinio Morínigo |
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