Historical Figure
Eva Perón
1919–1952
Argentine actress and politician (1919–1952)
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Biography
María Eva Duarte de Perón; María Eva Duarte; 7 May 1919 – 26 July 1952), better known as Eva Perón or by the nickname Evita, was an Argentine politician, activist, actress, and philanthropist who served as First Lady of Argentina from June 1946 until her death in July 1952, as the wife of Argentine President Juan Perón. She was born into poverty in the rural village of Los Toldos, in the Pampas, as the youngest of five children. In 1934, at the age of 15, she moved to the nation's capital of Buenos Aires to pursue a career as a stage, radio, and film actress. She married Perón in 1945, when he was still an army colonel, and was propelled onto the political stage when he became President of Argentina in 1946. She became a central figure of Peronism and Argentine culture because of the Eva Perón Foundation, a charitable organization perceived by many Argentinians as highly impactful.
Timeline
The story of Eva Perón, told in moments.
Moved to Buenos Aires at 15 to become an actress. Found work in radio and small film roles. Lived in boarding houses and scraped by.
Married Colonel Juan Peron. When the military arrested him in October, she rallied workers and unions to demand his release. The crowds filled the Plaza de Mayo. He was freed.
Created the Eva Peron Foundation, which built hospitals, schools, and housing for the poor. Distributed food, clothing, and cash directly. Worked 20-hour days. She was 29.
Died of cervical cancer at 33. Argentina declared a national period of mourning. Her embalmed body was stolen, hidden in Italy for 16 years, returned, stolen again, and finally re-interred in 1974.
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