University of Texas Distinguished Alumni: Fernando Belaúnde Terry
Fernando Belaúnde Terry was born in Lima into an upper-class family during the dictatorship of Augusto B. Leguía. His father and uncle were persecuted for their political activities, so Fernando’s family was forced to move France in 1924. In 1935, Belaúnde transferred to the University of Texas to complete his degree in architecture. Returning to Peru in 1937, he started a magazine called El Arquitecto Peruano. This magazine led to the founding of the Architects Association of Peru and the Urbanism Institute of Peru.
Belaúnde's political career began in 1944 when he helped found the National Democratic Front party. He also served in the Peruvian Congress until 1948, when a coup by General Manuel Odría overthrew the democratic government. When Odría stepped down from power, the National Front asked him to run for President. In 1956, Belaúnde gain nationwide fame when the election board refused to recognize his candidacy. Massive protests ensued, and the police began using water cannons to disperse crowds. Belaúnde faced down the police lines armed only with a Peruvian flag, and demanded his candidacy be accepted. The government accepted his demands. Belaúnde was eventually elected President in 1963.
Belaúnde was a progressive President, launching many development projects such as hydroelectric dams, highways, and irrigation projects. Peru’s economy suffered serious setbacks however over the devaluation of the currency and a controversial settlement with an oil company. Belaúnde was eventually overthrown in a military coup.
With the restoration of democracy in 1980, Belaúnde was elected to another term as President. Though Belaúnde was again at the forefront of Peruvian democracy, his term was once mired in poor economic conditions, a leftist armed insurgency, and environmental devastation caused by El Niño. Belaúnde died in Lima in 2002 at age 89, and was honored with a massive funeral. Thousands of Peruvians paid their final respects to the father of Peru's modern democracy.