# Batista Fulgencio Batista y Zaldfvar (1901-1973), Cuban dictator (19331944, 1952-1959). As an army sergeant, he took part in a military coup in 1933 and became the de facto ruler of Cuba and later its elected president from 1940 to 1944. He retired to Florida with his wealth after a period of stability, reform and corruption. In 1952 he seized power again and had himself elected president (1954, 1958). His corrupt rule caused popular discontent, and he fled the country in 1959 during the Castro revolution. See also Castro in this glossary.