Osmín Aguirre y Salinas
Osmín Aguirre y Salinas (December 24, 1889 – July 12, 1977) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician who played a key role in El Salvador’s mid-20th century turmoil. Born in San Miguel, he joined the army in 1906 and rose to the rank of colonel. He participated in two coups: in 1931, he helped overthrow President Arturo Araujo and joined the Civic Directory, briefly serving as provisional minister of war, the navy, and aviation; the junta then handed power to Maximiliano Hernández Martínez. In 1944, after Martínez resigned, Aguirre led another coup that overthrew the provisional government and made himself provisional president from October 21, 1944, to March 1, 1945, forming a cabinet on October 23.
As head of the National Police under Martínez, Aguirre was a central figure in La Matanza, the brutal crackdown on rebels in 1932. His brief presidency was marked by a crackdown on opposition and uprisings; the United States did not recognize his regime, and the Supreme Court later called his term unconstitutional. He sought a second term in January 1945, but the election was heavily tilted in favor of Salvador Castaneda Castro, with Aguirre receiving only a small share of the vote.
After leaving office, he retired from politics. Aguirre was assassinated on July 12, 1977, in San Salvador; the Farabundo Martí Popular Liberation Forces claimed responsibility. He was married to Rosa Cardona and had four children. His long military career included participation in the Totoposte War (1906) and steady promotions to colonel by 1927.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:21 (CET).