Somoza Garcia, Anastasio, << soh MOH sah gahr SEE uh, `ah` nah STAH syoh >> (1896-1956), was a Nicaraguan dictator who ruled his country for 20 years before he was assassinated on Sept. 29, 1956. Somoza controlled Nicaragua’s government, military, and economy and used his power to become rich. He crushed all opposition and did not allow freedom of expression. Somoza’s two sons also became Nicaraguan dictators.
Somoza was born on Feb. 1, 1896, in San Marcos, Nicaragua, the son of a small rancher. He studied at Peirce Union Business College (now Peirce College) in Philadelphia, then returned to Nicaragua and became a tax collector. He joined a revolutionary movement led by his wife’s uncle, Juan Batista Sacasa. Somoza became minister of war in 1932, after Sacasa was elected president.
In 1934, Somoza gained a reputation as a feared and ruthless man when he ordered Augusto Sandino, a popular guerrilla fighter, killed by the National Guard. In 1936, Somoza drove Sacasa from power. Somoza was elected president later that year in an election controlled by his troops. Somoza resigned as president in 1947, but he forced his successors to rule as he wished. He was elected president again in 1950.
Somoza improved Nicaragua’s agriculture, cattle raising, and mining. He also expanded port facilities and built new highways, houses, hospitals, power plants, railroads, and schools. Luis Somoza Debayle, Somoza’s oldest son, became president of Nicaragua after his father was killed. He served until 1963. Luis’s brother, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, served as president from 1967 to 1972 and from 1974 to 1979.
