Julio Argentino Roca

General Julio Argentino Roca
President of Argentina
In office October 12, 1898 – October 11, 1904
Vice President	Norberto Quirno Costa
Preceded by	José E. Uriburu
Succeeded by	Manuel Quintana
In office October 12, 1880 – October 11, 1886
Vice President	Francisco Bernabé Madero
Preceded by	Nicolás Avellaneda
Succeeded by	Miguel Ángel Juárez Celman
Minister of the Interior
In office August 6, 1890 – May 1, 1891
President	Carlos Pellegrini
Preceded by	Salustiano Zavalía
Succeeded by	José Vicente Zapata
Minister of War and the Navy
In office January 4, 1878 – October 9, 1879
President	Nicolás Avellaneda
Preceded by	Adolfo Alsina
Succeeded by	Carlos Pellegrini
Personal details
Born	(1843-07-17)July 17, 1843 San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Died	October 19, 1914(1914-10-19) (aged 71) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Resting place	La Recoleta Cemetery
Political party	National Autonomist
Spouse	Clara Funes
Children	Julio Pascual Roca Alejandro Roca Elisa Roca María Marcela Roca Clara Roca Agustina Roca Josefina Roca Elena Roca
Parent(s)	José Segundo Roca Agustina Paz
Relatives	Marcos Paz (uncle)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Argentine Confederation (until-1861) Argentine Republic
Branch/service	Argentine Army
Years of service	1856-1880
Rank	Lieutenant General
Battles/wars	Battle of Cepeda Battle of Pavón Battle of Lomas Blancas Battle of Las Playas Siege of Uruguaiana Battle of Yatay Battle of Tuyutí Battle of Curupayty Battle of San Ignacio Battle of Pastos Grandes Battle of Ñaembé Battle of Santa Rosa

Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz (July 17, 1843 – October 19, 1914) was an army general and statesman who served as President of Argentina from 1880 to 1886 and from 1898 to 1904. Roca is the most important representative of the Generation of '80 and is known for directing the Conquest of the Desert, a series of military campaigns against the indigenous peoples of Patagonia sometimes considered a genocide.

During his two terms as president, many important changes occurred, particularly major infrastructure projects of railroads and port facilities; increased foreign investment, along with immigration from Europe and particular large-scale immigration from southern Europe; expansion of the agricultural and pastoral sectors of the economy; and laicizing legislation strengthening state power.

Roca's main foreign policy concern was to set border limits with Chile, which had never been determined with precision. In 1881 Argentina gained territory by treaty with Chile.