Nicolás Avellaneda

Nicolás Avellaneda (1836-1885), Argentine politician, president of Argentina (1874-1880), born in San Miguel de Tucumán. He received a law degree from the University of Córdoba and earned a reputation as a journalist and economics teacher at the University of Buenos Aires. Minister of justice and public education during the presidency (1868-1874) of Domingo Sarmiento, he defeated ex-president Bartolomé Mitre for the presidency in 1874 and put down a revolt by Mitre that same year. At his urging, the Argentine congress passed a general amnesty law in 1877, which reconciled many of Mitre's followers. His policies of economic austerity and encouragement of immigration contributed greatly to the recovery of the Argentine economy after a period of crisis. During his term, the hostile Native Americans of the southern Pampas were subdued, and Buenos Aires, the capital city, was made a separate Federal District.