Máximo Santos

Máximo Benito Santos Barbosa (15 April 1847 – 19 May 1889) was a Uruguayan political and military figure who was President of Uruguay from 1882 to 1886. He was member of the Colorado Party.

He governed as an authoritarian in an alliance with the military.

During his presidency, a decree of November 28, 1882 provided that public lands, occupied by tenants, may be used for the formation of agricultural colonies.

Succession Santos was succeeded as president by Francisco Antonino Vidal in 1886. Santos served as the President of the Senate of Uruguay in 1886.

President of Uruguay (second interim term) Subsequently, after relinquishing presidential office in 1886, Santos returned to exercise presidential powers for a number of months in 1886.

In August 1886, there was an assassination attempt on Santos.

Succession Santos was succeeded as president by his Colorado Party colleague Máximo Tajes, with whom, however, he had poor relations. Tajes was still exercising his presidential office at Santos's death.

Later life and death Subsequent to the relinquishing of his presidential office for the second time, Santos travelled in Europe, and was unable to return to Uruguay.

Still aged in his early 40s, Santos died in exile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1889.

Legacy Santos' magnificent residence in downtown Montevideo nowadays is the seat of the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Uruguay and is known as Palacio Santos. His country estate now houses the Museo de la Memoria, a state-owned museum dedicated to the victims of the Uruguayan dictatorship.