Carlos Delgado Chalbaud
Encyclopedia
Carlos Román Delgado Chalbaud Gómez (January 20, 1909 – November 13, 1950) was a Venezuela
n career military officer, and as leader of a military junta
was President of Venezuela from 1948 to 1950. By 1945 he was a high-ranking officer and was among the leaders of a military coup which brought to power the mass membership party Democratic Action
. In 1948, whilst Minister of Defense, he led another military coup
and became head of state as President of a military junta, serving in that position until his death. He was assassinated in Caracas.
in 1945, he was a member of the Government Revolutionary Junta which replaced Medina in power. He became Minister of Defence under the presidency of Rómulo Gallegos
.
In 1948 Chalbaud was among those who overthrew that government, and was a member of the Military Junta of Government along with Marcos Pérez Jiménez
and Luis Llovera Páez, being the titular head of the three-person junta. He was kidnapped and assassinated by a group led by Rafael Simon Urbina
and his nephew Domingo Urbina, his kidnapping took place in Caracas in the now urbanized "La Cinta" street, in Baruta.
Although it has not been possible to confirm, for many people, the mastermind was Pérez Jiménez; nevertheless some believe this is unlikely since the wife of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, Doña Flor María Chalbaud Cardona de Pérez Jiménez, was Delgado Chalbaud's cousin. His murder seems to be the unintended outcome of a failed kidnapping led by Rafael Simon Urbina who looked to overthrow the Chalbaud presidency. Some believe Urbina despised Delgado Chalbaud although others allege they were close until a falling out over politics split them apart. The day after the capture and imprisonment of Urbina, he was assassinated by orders of the Direction of National Security, effectively securing Pérez Jiménez's position as the strongman in Venezuela for the next several years.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n career military officer, and as leader of a military junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
was President of Venezuela from 1948 to 1950. By 1945 he was a high-ranking officer and was among the leaders of a military coup which brought to power the mass membership party Democratic Action
Democratic Action
Democratic Action is a centrist Venezuelan political party established in 1941. The party and its antecedents played an important role in the early years of Venezuelan democracy, and led the government during Venezuela's first democratic period...
. In 1948, whilst Minister of Defense, he led another military coup
1948 Venezuelan coup d'état
The 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état took place on 27 November 1948, when Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, Marcos Pérez Jiménez and Luis Felipe Llovera Páez overthrew the elected president Rómulo Gallegos. Gallegos had been elected in the Venezuelan presidential election, 1947 and taken office in February 1948...
and became head of state as President of a military junta, serving in that position until his death. He was assassinated in Caracas.
Background
Carlos Delgado Chalbaud was a military man and a Venezuelan politician. He was known as Carlos Delgado Chalbaud because he used the last names of his father Román Delgado Chalbaud as a form of tribute to his memory. His mother was Ms. Luisa Elena Gómez Velutini. He studied Engineering in France; after finishing his studies he returned to Paris and joined the Army with the rank of captain.Career
As one of the brightest officials of the Armed Forces associated with the group that overthrew Isaías Medina AngaritaIsaías Medina Angarita
Isaías Medina Angarita was a Venezuelan military and political leader, president of Venezuela from 1941 until 1945....
in 1945, he was a member of the Government Revolutionary Junta which replaced Medina in power. He became Minister of Defence under the presidency of Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. For a period of some nine months during 1948, he was the first cleanly elected president in his country's history....
.
In 1948 Chalbaud was among those who overthrew that government, and was a member of the Military Junta of Government along with Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was a soldier and Presidents of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958.-Career:Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was born in Michelena, Táchira State. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher...
and Luis Llovera Páez, being the titular head of the three-person junta. He was kidnapped and assassinated by a group led by Rafael Simon Urbina
Rafael Simon Urbina
Rafael Simon Urbina was a Venezuelan rebel fighting against the dictatorial regime of Juan Vicente Gómez. He led the taking of Fort Amsterdam in Curaçao and was involved in the failed kidnapping attempt of then Venezuelan President Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, ultimately resulting in the death of both...
and his nephew Domingo Urbina, his kidnapping took place in Caracas in the now urbanized "La Cinta" street, in Baruta.
Although it has not been possible to confirm, for many people, the mastermind was Pérez Jiménez; nevertheless some believe this is unlikely since the wife of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, Doña Flor María Chalbaud Cardona de Pérez Jiménez, was Delgado Chalbaud's cousin. His murder seems to be the unintended outcome of a failed kidnapping led by Rafael Simon Urbina who looked to overthrow the Chalbaud presidency. Some believe Urbina despised Delgado Chalbaud although others allege they were close until a falling out over politics split them apart. The day after the capture and imprisonment of Urbina, he was assassinated by orders of the Direction of National Security, effectively securing Pérez Jiménez's position as the strongman in Venezuela for the next several years.