Arturo Rawson
An army general who spearheaded a 1943 coup, only to see his presidency last a mere three days before being ousted by his own allies.
1885–1952 (age 67)·21st President of Argentina·Birthday: June 4·The Lost Generation
Biography
Arturo Rawson's place in Argentine history is defined by one of its briefest presidencies. A cavalry officer with conservative Catholic leanings, he was a central figure in the military coup of June 4, 1943, that overthrew the fraudulent government of Ramón Castillo. As the senior officer present, Rawson assumed the provisional presidency, expecting to steer the country. His plans, however, immediately collided with the other factions within the conspiratorial military group, the United Officers' Group (GOU). His intention to appoint a cabinet filled with fellow conservatives and even some figures from the old regime alarmed the nationalist and reformist officers who wanted deeper change. Under intense pressure, he was forced to resign just 72 hours after taking office, succeeded by General Pedro Ramírez. Rawson's fleeting tenure was a stark lesson in the volatile politics of military revolts, where leading the coup did not guarantee the power to control its aftermath.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Arturo was born in 1885, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arturo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1885
Arturo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1885Born
Karl Benz builds the first gasoline-powered automobile
President: Grover Cleveland
1890Started school
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1898Became a teenager
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1901Could drive
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1903Could vote
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Turned 21
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1915Turned 30
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Turned 40
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1935Turned 50
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 60
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1952Died at 67
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
Key Achievements
- Led the military coup on June 4, 1943, that deposed President Ramón Castillo and ended the 'Infamous Decade.'
- Served as the de facto President of Argentina from June 4 to June 7, 1943.
- Previously served as Argentina's ambassador to Brazil during the administration of President Roberto M. Ortiz.
Did You Know?
He was an accomplished polo player in his youth.
The 1943 coup he led is also known as the 'Revolution of '43' and opened the door to the rise of Juan Perón.
After his short presidency, he largely retired from frontline politics, though he remained a symbolic figure for some conservative nationalists.
“The revolution was betrayed from within; I was its first casualty.”
