Grau San Martín, Ramón

Grau San Martín, Ramón (1887-1969), president of Cuba (1933-1934 and 1944-1948). He was born in Pinar del Río, trained in medicine at the University of Havana, and became a prominent doctor. A staunch opponent of the dictator Gerardo Machado, Grau San Martín helped to overthrow him in August 1933. Following this revolt, Carlos Manuel de Céspedes became president, but a month later Grau San Martín took part in the army revolt led by Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar. Grau San Martín was subsequently named provisional president. In January 1934 he in turn was removed from office in another coup d'état led by Batista. In 1944 Grau San Martín was elected president, thwarting Batista's plan for a puppet regime controlled by himself. Grau San Martín's administration abolished press censorship and made some improvements in health, education, and housing, but it was riddled with corruption and lost popular support. He ran again against Batista in 1954 but withdrew before the election, claiming that it was being fought dishonestly.