Julio Argentino Roca


Roca, Julio Argentino

 

Born July 17, 1843, in Tucu-mán; died Oct. 19, 1914, in Buenos Aires. Argentine state and political figure; general.

In 1878 and 1879, Roca led a punitive expedition against the Indians of the Patagonia region. During the years 1880–86 and 1898–1904, he served as Argentina’s president. These years saw the seizure of Indian lands by Argentine landowners and foreign capitalists and the militarization of the country. Roca facilitated the strengthening of the position of foreign, primarily British, capital within the country. In 1913 and 1914 he was ambassador to Brazil.