Salazar, António de Oliveira

Salazar, António de Oliveira (1889-1970), Portuguese economist and statesman, who ruled (1932-1968) Portugal as a dictator. Salazar was born on April 28, 1889, near the town of Santa Comba Dão, and was educated at the University of Coimbra. He became (1914) a lecturer in economics at the University of Coimbra and attained (1918) the rank of professor. Soon after a military junta headed by General António de Fragoso Carmona seized (1926) control of Portugal's government, Salazar was offered the post of finance minister to reform the nation's chaotic economy.