GOMEZ, Jose Miguel

(1858-1921)
He was born on 6 July 1858 in Sancti Spiritus Province (Santa Clara). He studied at the University of Havana, but left teaching in 1876 and took part in the anti-Ten-Year War (1868-1878) on the side of the rebel army. Not knowing defeats in battles with the Spaniards, Gomez soon was promoted to lieutenant. During the Spanish-American War of 1898 Gomez became a Major General and Governor of the province of Santa Clara. He was a member of the diplomatic mission in talks with U.S. President McKinley. In 1905, unsuccessfully ran for the presidency of Cuba as a candidate of the Liberal Party. The re-election President Estrada Palma conservative liberals responded to the uprising. In 1908, Gomez was elected President of Cuba. Although his reign (1909-1913) has generally been successful at re-election he was defeated. In 1917, Gomez led the anti-government rebellion, was arrested and expelled from the country. Gomez died in New York on June 13, 1921.