Fidel Castro begins a rebellion against G Batista 1953. The Cuban Communist politician, prime minister 1959-76 and president from 1976. He led two unsuccessful coups agains the right wing Batista regime and led the revolution that overthrew the dictator 1959. From 1979 he was also president of the nonaligned movement, although promoting the line of the USSR which subsidised his regime. Of wealthy parentage, Castro was educated at Jesuit schools and, after studying law at the University of Havana, he gained a reputation through his work for poor clients. He opposed the Batista dictatorship, and took part in an unsuccessful attack on the army barracks at Santiago de Cuba 1953. After some time in exile in the USA and Mexico, Castro attempted a secret landing in Cuba 1956 in which all but 11 of his supporters were killed. He eventually gathered an army of over 5000 which overthrew Bat UnitedArchives01004444

Fidel Castro begins a rebellion against G Batista 1953. The Cuban Communist politician, prime minister 1959-76 and president from 1976. He led two unsuccessful coups agains the right wing Batista regime and led the revolution that overthrew the dictator 1959. From 1979 he was also president of the nonaligned movement, although promoting the line of the USSR which subsidised his regime. Of wealthy parentage, Castro was educated at Jesuit schools and, after studying law at the University of Havana, he gained a reputation through his work for poor clients. He opposed the Batista dictatorship, and took part in an unsuccessful attack on the army barracks at Santiago de Cuba 1953. After some time in exile in the USA and Mexico, Castro attempted a secret landing in Cuba 1956 in which all but 11 of his supporters were killed. He eventually gathered an army of over 5000 which overthrew Bat UnitedArchives01004444