Laureano Gómez

President of Colombia

Laureano Eleuterio Gómez Castro 20 February 1889 Bogotá, D.C., Colombia

13 July 1965(1965-07-13) (76) Bogotá, D.C., Colombia

7 August 1950 (1950-08-07 )  – 5 November 1951 (1951-11-05 )

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Castro. Laureano Eleuterio Gómez Castro (20 February 1889 – 13 July 1965) was a Colombian politician and civil engineer who served as the 18th President of Colombia from 1950 to 1953. In November 1951 poor health led him to cede presidential power to Roberto Urdaneta Arbelaez. On 13 June 1953, when he tried to resume his presidency, he was overthrown in a military coup led by Gustavo Rojas Pinilla. During the three decades prior to being elected president, Gómez was a radical leader of the Conservative Party and is widely considered to be one of the most brilliant and potent orators of the Congress of Colombia. However, he remains a controversial figure because of his sympathy for authoritarian regimes and the dictatorial nature of his government.