Gabriel Terra

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Gabriel Terra" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Gabriel Terra
President Dr. Gabriel Terra (1937)
President of Uruguay
In office May 18, 1934 – June 19, 1938
Succeeded by	Alfredo Baldomir
De facto President of Uruguay
In office March 31, 1933 – May 18, 1934
Preceded by	Himself as constitutional president
Succeeded by	Himself as designated president
26th Constitutional President of Uruguay
In office March 1, 1931 – March 31, 1933
Preceded by	Juan Campisteguy
Succeeded by	Himself as de facto president
Personal details
Born	August 1, 1873 Montevideo, Uruguay
Died	September 15, 1942 (aged 69) Montevideo, Uruguay
Spouse	María Marcelina Ilarraz Miranda
Children	Gabriel Terra Ilarraz Isabel Casilda Terra Alfredo Terra Matilde Terra Mercedes Terra Olga Terra Antonio José Terra Raquel Sabina Terra
Parent(s)	José Ladislao Terra Silveira, Joaquina Leivas y Caballero
Education	Jurisprudence, Law, specialized in diplomacy, economics, and finance
Occupation	Politician, jurist, and professor at the University of the Republic

José Luis Gabriel Terra Leivas (Montevideo, August 1, 1873 – Montevideo, September 15, 1942) was a lawyer, professor, lecturer, economist, writer, statesman, and politician from Uruguay. Between 1900 and 1939, he served as a distinguished advisor to all Uruguayan governments on diplomatic, economic, and financial matters. From 1907 to 1922, he held significant ministerial positions and was a member of the National Council of Administration from 1926 to 1929. He governed as the Constitutional President from March 1, 1931, until his self-coup on March 31, 1933, marking the beginning of the historical period known as the "Terra dictatorship" or "March government." He governed provisionally until March 1, 1934, dissolved the Collegiate, and reinstated the single executive system through the 1934 Constitution, ruling until June 11, 1938.

Among Uruguayans, his de facto period from 1933 to 1934 is popularly referred to as a "dictablanda" (soft dictatorship) due to the civil and peaceful nature of the coup, in contrast to the broader Latin American context.

In 1938, he became President of the Bank of the Republic (Uruguay). That same year, he left the position due to a stroke, remaining paralyzed for four years until his death in near-extreme poverty on September 15, 1942. ```