Passion or Profession: Politician

Period: 1883–1933

Baltasar Brum was one of the foremost advocates for democracy in Uruguay. His early career included serving as Uruguay's public education minister and foreign minister, as well as being instrumental in revising the Uruguayan constitution. Then in 1919, he was elected president. During his administration, he helped develop the education and welfare systems. Ten years after his presidency ended, he committed suicide in protest of a coup that overthrew the democratic government and put a dictator into power.