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Second wife of Argentine president Juan Peron, who, during her husband's first term as president (1946-52), became a powerful though unofficial political leader, revered by the lower economic classes. Although she never held any government post, Evita acted as de facto minister of health and labour, awarding generous wage increases to the unions, who responded with political support for Peron. After her death, Evita remained a formidable influence in Argentine politics. Her working-class followers tried unsuccessfully to have her canonized, and her enemies, in an effort to exorcise her as a national symbol of Peronism, stole her body in 1955 after Juan Peron was overthrown and secreted it in Italy for 16 years. In 1971 the military government, bowing to Peronist demands, turned over her remains to her exiled widower in Madrid. After Juan Peron died in office in 1974, his third wife, Isabel Peron, hoping to gain favour among the populace, repatriated the remains and installed them next to the deceased leader in a crypt in the presidential palace. Two years later a new military junta hostile to Peronism removed the bodies; Evita's remains were finally interred in the Duarte family crypt in Recoleta cemetery.



In full Eva Duarte de Peron, byname Evita. Born May 7, 1919, Los Toldos, Arg.
died July 26, 1952, Buenos Aires.

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Women Who Changed the World

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actress , star , woman , politician , evita