Quick Info
| Profession | Communist Revolutionary, Political Leader |
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| Nationality | Cuban |
| Date of Birth | 13/08/1926 |
| Age | 90 years (died on 25, Nov, 2016) |
| Birthplace | Near Birán, Cuba |
| Date of Death | 25/11/2016 |
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Fidel Castro was the political leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008 who transformed his country into the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. He led the Cuban Revolution against the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and became a symbol of communist revolution in Latin America. |
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| Major Achievements |
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| Controversies |
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Educational Qualification(s)
| University | University of Havana |
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| Field | Law |
| Degree | Doctorate in Law |
| Year Completed | 1950 |
| Previous Schools |
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Personal Life
| Known For | Wearing guerrilla fatigues and Cuban cigars |
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| Political Ideology | Communist revolutionary |
| Stance | Anti-imperialist, opponent of U.S. foreign policy |
| Full Name | Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz |
Family
| Brother | Raúl Castro (succeeded him as leader) |
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| Father | Angel Castro (landowner) |
| Mother | Lina Ruz (cook and maid) |
| Children |
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| Spouses |
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Career
| Early Political Activity | Participated in resistance movements in Dominican Republic and Colombia while at university |
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| Prepared to run for legislative office before Batista's coup | |
| July 26, 1953 | Led failed assault on Moncada army barracks in Santiago de Cuba; captured and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment |
| Fled to Mexico, organized guerrilla fighters; returned to Cuba with brother Raúl and Che Guevara | |
| 1956-1958 | Established base in Sierra Maestra Mountains; conducted guerrilla campaign |
| January 1, 1959 | Took control of Cuba as Prime Minister after Batista fled |
| 1959-1976 | Served as Prime Minister |
| 1976-2008 | Served as President of Council of State and Council of Ministers |
| July 2006 | Handed over provisional power due to health problems |
| February 2008 | Formally relinquished presidency to brother Raúl |
| Notable Events |
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| Party Role | First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Son of wealthy, landowning Cubans | |
| 2. Attended Catholic preparatory schools | |
| 3. During Moncada trial, famously stated 'history will absolve me' | |
| 4. Renamed revolutionary group '26th of July Movement' in memory of Moncada attack | |
| 5. Organized revolutionary tribunals that tried and executed members of old regime | |
| 6. Considered by Eisenhower administration as most dangerous revolutionary in Third World by 1960 | |
| 7. Master of political survival through severe illness and power transition | |
| 8. Led Latin America's third social revolution of the twentieth century | |
| 9. Achieved high literacy rate through nationwide education campaigns |