Manuel Prado Ugarteche

Manuel Prado y Ugarteche
Manuel Prado y Ugarteche
Born	April 21, 1889 (age 137); Lima, Peru
Died	August 15, 1967 (aged 78); Paris, France
Occupation(s)	Banker, politician
Known for	President of Peru (1939–1945, 1956–1962)

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Manuel Prado Ugarteche, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Manuel Carlos Prado y Ugarteche (April 21, 1889 – August 15, 1967) was a prominent Peruvian banker and politician who held the office of president of Peru on two occasions. As the son of former President Mariano Ignacio Prado, he served as Peru’s 43rd president from 1939 to 1945 and later as its 46th president between 1956 and 1962. His half-brother, Leoncio Prado Gutiérrez, was a celebrated military figure who perished in 1883, several years before Manuel’s birth.

Born in Lima, Prado initially built a career in banking before transitioning into the political arena. In 1914, he collaborated with General Benavides to depose President Guillermo Billinghurst during World War I, a period when Peru maintained neutrality. After experiencing imprisonment and exile in Chile and France, he returned to Peru in 1932. Subsequently, he assumed leadership of the Peruvian Vapores Company and was appointed head of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru from 1934 until 1939. His first presidential term began after winning the 1939 election and was marked by Peru’s triumph in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War as well as being the first South American nation to break diplomatic relations with the Axis powers during World War II. Following the conclusion of his term in 1945, Prado moved to Paris but later returned to secure victory over Belaunde in the 1956 election. During his second presidency, he aligned Peru closely with the United States amid the Cold War, until his removal by a military coup led by Ricardo Perez Godoy in 1962. He spent his final years in exile in Paris, passing away there in 1967.

Early Life

Manuel Prado y Ugarteche was born into a distinguished political lineage as the youngest son of General Mariano Ignacio Prado and María Magdalena Ugarteche Gutiérrez de Cossío. His father had served as President of Peru during the 1879 conflict against Chile known as the War of the Pacific, before being ousted by a coup.

His family included notable figures who made significant contributions across politics, finance, and diplomacy. His half-brother Leoncio earned recognition as a war hero before his execution in 1883. The eldest sibling, Mariano Ignacio, established what became known as the Prado Empire, one of Peru’s foremost economic conglomerates during the early twentieth century. Other brothers such as Javier and Jorge held positions as Prime Ministers.

Manuel’s education included studies at Paris’s Lycée Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague and Lima’s Inmaculada School. He attained both a bachelor's degree (1907) and doctorate (1910) from the University of San Marcos, subsequently earning a Civil Engineering degree at the National School of Engineers in 1911.

In 1908, he was selected as a student delegate to participate in the inaugural Congress of American Students held in Montevideo. He also completed military training at the Chorrillos Military School, achieving ranks of sergeant and cavalry ensign. In 1911, he served in Lambayeque amid rising tensions with Ecuador.

By 1912, Prado had joined San Marcos University faculty as an assistant professor, later becoming a full professor specializing in infinitesimal analysis.

Early political career

As an active member of the Civil Party, Manuel alongside his brothers supported the civil-military coup that removed President Guillermo Billinghurst in 1914. They played instrumental roles in seizing control of the Government Palace and exerted pressure leading to Billinghurst’s resignation, motivated by their allegiance to their father’s legacy. Congress subsequently promoted Manuel to lieutenant.

In 1915, he secured election to the Lima City Council, where he served as Works inspector and contributed to urban development projects.

Following Augusto Leguía's coup in 1919, Prado was elected to a National Assembly tasked with drafting a new Constitution. Despite winning a senate seat, he opposed Leguía’s regime and was deported in 1921 along with his brothers; they relocated to Paris and London.

After Leguía’s downfall in 1930, Prado returned to Peru and was elected to the board of directors for the Central Reserve Bank of Peru in 1932. Soon thereafter, he became general manager and was appointed chairman (Governor) of the Bank in 1934, holding both positions until 1939.

1939 election

In the 1939 general election, President Oscar R. Benavides threw his support behind Prado as the presidential contender. His opponent was José Quesada Larrea, a young attorney from Trujillo, Peru, who acquired the newspaper La Prensa to advocate for electoral freedom and oppose government interference.

The prominent APRA party remained banned, and the Sanchecerrista Revolutionary Union was also prohibited following the exile of its leader Luis A. Flores. Both Prado and Quesada attempted to gain APRA’s endorsement; however, the party chose to stay neutral. Prado campaigned as the candidate of a coalition composed of smaller parties.

Prior to voting day, the government shut down La Prensa. Despite accusations of widespread fraud, Prado secured a decisive victory.

First government (1939–1945)

Manuel Prado took office on 8 December 1939. Initially not widely recognized, he demonstrated both strategic acumen and adaptability, becoming one of Peru’s most influential political figures of the 20th century. His tenure largely continued the policies set by General Benavides while preserving a degree of democratic governance.

World War II significantly disrupted trade: imports sharply decreased while exports such as sugar, cotton, metals, and rubber increased. This scarcity encouraged the growth of domestic industries that substituted foreign goods, generating new economic prosperity.

On the international stage, Prado achieved two notable accomplishments:

Firstly, Peru’s success in the conflict with Ecuador culminated in the Rio de Janeiro Protocol, a treaty guaranteed by the United States, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina that resolved a longstanding border dispute—although tensions reemerged when Ecuador later withdrew recognition.

Secondly, Prado’s approach of continental unity aligned Peru with the United States and other democracies opposing Axis powers. Peru became the first Latin American nation to break diplomatic relations with Germany, Italy, and Japan. At the 1942 Rio de Janeiro conference, Peru played a key role in rallying support for the U.S., exemplifying strong pro-American sentiment that included hosting an American air base in Talara and interning residents of German and Japanese descent.

Domestically, despite his democratic orientation, Prado maintained APRA’s ban until his final year in office when it joined the National Democratic Front under the name "People's Party" during elections. Meanwhile, numerous communists supported Prado due to the Soviet Union’s alliance with the Allies.

Important events

During Prado’s initial administration, alongside triumph in the war with Ecuador and backing Western democracies in World War II, several initiatives propelled Peru’s industrial growth and infrastructure expansion:

Implementation of an "import substitution" strategy to counter wartime shortages accelerated industrial development.
The Peruvian Amazon Corporation was founded to boost rubber production amid global demand.
The Peruvian Commercial Aviation Corporation (CORPAC) was established to oversee airports including Limatambo Airport’s inauguration.
An agricultural cooperation agreement with the United States was signed through the Inter-American Cooperative Food Production Service (SCIPA).
The Peruvian segment of the Pan American Highway was paved.
Construction was completed on the Central Road connecting Aguaytia and Pucallpa through jungle terrain.
The departments of Tumbes (1942) and Pasco (1944) were created.
The 1940 General Census recorded a population of 6.2 million people nationwide, with Lima housing 577,000 residents.
The Organic Law on Public Education was enacted alongside a nationwide literacy campaign addressing widespread illiteracy revealed by the 1943 census.
Technical education expanded through improvements in art schools and craft institutions.
Important healthcare facilities opened: the Worker's Hospital (now Guillermo Almenara Hospital), Huacho's Worker's Hospital (Gustavo Lanatta Luján Hospital), and Lima's Maternity Hospital.
Large-scale vaccination programs were initiated.
The fourth Working Quarter was constructed along the Rimac River.
The Yavarí District was established within Loreto’s Mariscal Ramón Castilla Province.
Tourism development continued receiving government support.
Popular canteens were founded that operated for many years thereafter.

Two significant disasters struck during this period: the 1940 earthquake affecting Lima-Callao and a 1943 fire at Peru’s National Library; historian Jorge Basadre led reconstruction efforts.

In the 1945 election, Prado endorsed General Eloy Ureta—hero of the Ecuadorian conflict—but José Luis Bustamante y Rivero emerged victorious representing a coalition that included APRA.

Following his presidency, Prado resided in Paris on Avenida Foch and owned Lima’s Edificio Rímac from 1939 until 1945.

Stance on the Jewish Holocaust

Throughout the Holocaust period, President Manuel Prado Ugarteche, through his Foreign Minister Alfredo Solf de Muro, maintained a stringent policy denying visas to Jewish refugees seeking asylum in Peru, despite their desperate need to flee persecution. A significant instance occurred in 1944 when Peru declined a request from the World Jewish Congress to accept 200 Jewish war orphans, who were subsequently killed at Auschwitz.

Peruvian diplomat José María Barreto took initiative by issuing passports to save 58 Jews residing in Switzerland; however, he faced official censure. The government invalidated these passports, shut down the embassy involved, and effectively ended Barreto’s diplomatic career.

During Prado’s second presidency (1956–1962), the principal prohibited political organization remained APRA (American Popular Revolutionary Alliance), which had been banned since 1948 under President Manuel Odría. Prado moved to legalize APRA, facilitating the return from exile of its founder Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre.

Foreign policy during first administration

Prado proudly positioned Peru as the earliest South American nation to break diplomatic relations with the Axis Powers in 1942, aligning closely with the United States. His government endorsed the relocation of Peruvians of Japanese ancestry to the U.S. during World War II—a policy some historians characterize as an act of ethnic cleansing.

Second presidency (1956–1962)

In the June 1956 elections, Prado secured victory with 45.5% of votes, surpassing Fernando Belaunde Terry who obtained 36.7%, and Hernando de Lavalle with 17.8%.

Prado’s second term was challenged by economic difficulties including recession and currency depreciation triggered by the 1957 downturn in the United States. Major issues included rural unrest pressing for agrarian reform and efforts to reclaim oil fields at La Brea and Pariñas that were being exploited unlawfully by the American International Petroleum Company. Opposition leader Belaunde established the People's Action party as preparation for upcoming electoral contests.

The media landscape featured opposition outlets such as El Comercio and La Prensa; meanwhile, La Crónica—owned by Prado’s family—concentrated primarily on sports and crime reporting, limiting its political impact.

In 1959, Pedro G. Beltrán, director of La Prensa, joined Prado’s cabinet as Minister of Finance and Prime Minister, implementing liberal economic reforms aimed at financial stabilization: achieving balanced budgets, stabilizing currency, and reducing subsidies despite provoking public discontent due to increased gasoline prices and higher taxes.

Massive migration from rural regions led to an expansion of Lima's impoverished slums into what became known as a "belt of misery," with minimal effective governmental intervention addressing widespread poverty.

As Prado’s administration drew to a close, social tensions intensified with strikes and violent demonstrations fueled by economic distress and criticism of his perceived arrogant demeanor amidst crises.

On a personal note, Prado obtained a Catholic annulment of his first marriage in 1958 and married Clorinda Málaga de Prado, causing minor controversy among Lima’s conservative circles. In 1961, he became the first foreign leader to visit Japan following World War II.

Major accomplishments and initiatives

Significant projects during this term included:

Enactment of the Industrial Promotion Act fostering early industrial growth in Peru.
Establishment of National Funds for Economic Development within each department, promoting administrative decentralization through public infrastructure projects.
Launching a steel manufacturing facility in the port city of Chimbote, aiming to emulate industrialization successes seen elsewhere in Latin America; Chimbote was already Peru’s leading fishing hub experiencing rapid expansion.
Growth of the fishmeal sector that elevated Peru to global prominence in fishing, credited largely to entrepreneur Luis Banchero Rossi.
Vigorous defense against Ecuador’s contestation of the 1942 Rio de Janeiro Protocol safeguarding Peruvian territorial claims.
Creation of the Institute of Agrarian Reform and Colonization (IRAC) responding to peasant demands for land reform by studying and proposing strategies to increase arable land through colonization and support for family farming; these initiatives were extended by later administrations.
Procurement of new BAP cruisers Almirante Grau and BAP Coronel Bolognesi replacing vessels acquired five decades earlier; these ships remained active until the early 1980s.
Formation of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces integrating Army, Navy, and Air Force leadership structures.
Reorganization of secondary education into distinct Letters and Sciences tracks starting from fourth year; technical secondary education received improvements while primary education remained neglected.
Severance of diplomatic relations with Cuba following its Communist Revolution and alignment with the Soviet bloc.
Peru’s participation in the Alliance for Progress initiative spearheaded by U.S. President John F. Kennedy aimed at fostering Latin American development.
Bilateral agreement with Bolivia for joint utilization of Lake Titicaca waters for irrigation purposes in border regions.
Implementation of a 'Southern Plan' targeting revitalization efforts in the drought-affected Puno Region during 1958–59.
Introduction of television broadcasting in Peru facilitated by provisions within the Industrial Promotion Act (1958), leading to establishment of initial TV stations.

Overthrow through coup d'état

As his presidency neared its conclusion, Prado called for elections featuring prominent contenders:

Victor Raul Haya de la Torre (Aprista Party)
Architect Fernando Belaunde Terry (Popular Action)
General and former president Manuel A. Odría (National Odrist Union)

The election held on 10 June 1962 failed to produce a candidate with the necessary one-third majority, leading Congress to select from the top three finalists. Unexpectedly, a coalition emerged between rivals Haya and Odría, with Odría anticipated to take office. However, accusations of electoral fraud surfaced, prompting the Armed Forces’ Joint Command under General Ricardo Pérez Godoy to call for the vote’s annulment.

The military opposed Prado’s civilian reform agenda, which diminished their traditional backing from conservative elites and the Catholic Church. On 18 July 1962, at approximately 3:20 am, an armored unit commanded by Colonel Gonzalo Briceño Zevallos seized Government Palace, detaining Prado and his allies who had foreseen the coup. Prado was held aboard the BAP Callao naval vessel until his term officially ended on 28 July. Subsequently, he departed Peru voluntarily on 1 August and established residence in Paris.

The military junta that succeeded him nullified the election results and scheduled new polls. This takeover was primarily driven by deep-seated anti-Aprista attitudes within the Armed Forces, determined to prevent APRA from gaining power even through coalition arrangements.

Later years

After leaving Peru, Prado resettled in Paris. He made a brief return on 2 May 1966 to participate in the centennial celebrations of the Battle of Callao, where he was honored as the son of President Mariano Ignacio Prado, who led Peru during the 1865–66 conflict with Spain. Prado passed away in Paris the following year and was interred at the Presbítero Maestro Cemetery, resting beside his father.