Fidel Castro was a revolutionary leader who came to power in Cuba in 1959. He led a campaign which led to the overthrow of the American backed President Fulgencio Batista. Castro was a Marxist–Leninist under whose rule Cuba became a one-party communist state.
Fidel Castro was born Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz in Birán in eastern Cuba in 1926. Having qualified as a lawyer he became involved in leftist politics. He was imprisoned for his activities in 1953. Following release from prison Castro moved to Mexico where he established a revolutionary group. He returned to Cuba where following a guerrilla war he came to power in 1959.
Following the overthrow of Batista, Castro assumed military and political power. He began to nationalise American economic assets and forge closer links with the Soviet Union. In response the United States Government made several attempts, without success, to remove Castro from office. He remained in power until 2008 when handed over control to his brother Raul. Fidel Castro died in 2016 aged 90.
Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary leader who came to power in 1959 was born in the year 1926 On This Day.
Fidel Castro