CACERES, Andres Avelino, Peruvian military officer and statesman : b. Ayacucho, in southern Peru, 10 Nov. 1836; d. 20 Nov. 1911. While still young he was actively engaged in political strife, serving as an officer under Castilla and Prado, and when the latter was overthrown was imprisoned for a year. He distinguished himself at the taking of Are quipa. In 1857 he became military attaché to the legation of the Peruvian government at Paris, and was stationed at that post until 1860. In the Chilean War (1879-83) he served in nearly all of the battles, being rapidly promoted from colonel to the rank of general, and, after the taking of Lima, was made 2d Vice-President in the provisional government of Calderon (June 1883). The imprisonment of Calderon the President, and the absence of the 1st Vice President made him acting President of Peru. In his refusal to acknowledge Iglesias, whom the Chileans had placed at the head of the gov ernment at Lima, as President, Caceres was supported by the interior provinces, and he at once planned to depose him. In his first at tempt to take Lima, in August 1884, he was re pulsed in a bloody street fight, but after raising a larger force he appeared before the city, 1 Dec. 1885, and peaceably persuaded Iglesias to submit the office of President to a general election. This resulted in the election of Ca
ceres, and on 3 June 1886 he was inaugurated President of Peru. The country prospered greatly under his administration, gradually re covering from the ill effects of the war; a pri vate company absorbed the state railroads and guano beds and took over a portion of the na tional debt. In 1890 he was defeated for the Presidency by Bermudez, but was soon after ward, in 1891, appointed by him Peruvian Min ister to France and Spain. In 1894, upon the death of President Bermudez, the party of Ca ceres seized the reins of government, Caceres was proclaimed dictator and the Congress forced to elect him President. The ex-dictator, Pierola, however, disputed his right to the office and besieged the city, on 18 March 1895, after a bloody conflict, taking it. A treaty of peace was signed between the two parties, in which Caceres was obliged to resign the Presidency. He soon afterward fled and Pierola was elected President 10 July 1895. Upon the retirement of Romatia from the Presidency, Caceres re turned to his native land and again entered the political arena. He was sent as Envoy Ex traordinary to Italy in 1905, and was assassi nated 20 Nov. 1911.